tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811Tue, 28 Jul 2015 14:00:42 +0000sewingKCWtoddler clothestutorialProject Run and PlayCelebrate the boyfor babysewing for babyGift Ideasquiltsshortssewalongchevron quiltskirtsZuzzy Patternsfree patternPDF sewing patternscrochetfabricmachine embroiderytrendsAll I know about machine embroideryaround the sewing roombaby shoesembroiderybaby doll sewinghouse itemspin cushionChestnutPantsHalloween CostumeToddler Activitiesetsyfabric shoppingmood boardservice projectsilhouettetoddler accessoriesCrafting Zuzzysewing and so much morehttp://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Angela)Blogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-3197427277011086940Thu, 09 Jul 2015 16:58:00 +00002015-07-09T09:58:32.478-07:00All I know about machine embroiderymachine embroideryWhat machine embroidery thread should I use? and where can I buy it?There are a lot of different types of embroidery threads you can use. Today I am going to share all I know about embroidery thread. I'm still learning myself but I hope this can help you get started.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://216.104.38.83/images/mrvacandmrssew/Product/medium/1056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://216.104.38.83/images/mrvacandmrssew/Product/medium/1056.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mrvacandmrssew.com/polystar-embroidery-thread-now-with-snap-spools-single-spools-p-1056.aspx">picture from Mr. Vac and Mrs. Sew</a></div><br /><br />There are different brands of embroidery thread and different fiber content. Some embroiders have some very strong opinions about them. Some embroiders say their machines are picky and will not sew with poor quality thread. If you are having trouble with your machine (thread shredding, breaking, puckering, looping), try out some higher quality thread and see if that fixes your problem. Of course the higher quality stuff costs more, so try to find what you like best that fits your budget. Just make sure you always buy embroidery thread, NEVER regular sewing machine thread, and especially not serger/overlock cone thread. Those threads are not made for embroidery machines, they have a LOT of lint and will gunk up your machine.<br /><br />These are the brands I have heard most about, and what people generally say about them.<br /><br /><u>I hear the best things about</u><br />Isacord<br />Floriani<br />Maderia<br />Polystar<br /><br /><u>I've heard good things about</u><br />Mettler<br />Metro<br />Sigma<br />Exquisite<br />Gunold<br /><br /><u>I've heard complaints about</u><br />Sulky<br />Embroidex<br />Brother<br />Coats and Clark<br /><br />Besides brands, you need to be away of fiber contest. Machine embroidery thread can be made out of polyester or rayon fibers. Polyester threads are stronger, won't shrink, fade, or bleed, holds up to chlorine bleach, and usually is cheaper. Rayon, on the other hand, has a beautiful sheen and is softer on your machine for less wear and tear. There isn't a right or wrong on Polyester verses Rayon, just personal preference. Even the experts disagree. <a href="http://www.allstitch.net/content/thread-polyester-vs-rayon-whats-the-best-embroidery-thread-to-use-1046.cfm">Allstitch has an interesting article on it here</a>&nbsp;if you are interested in more. There are other threads like polyneon that is made from polyester but supposedly offers the same silky shine as rayon. Like I said, it's all personal preference.<br /><br />Personally, I have tried Coats and Clark polyester, Sulky rayon, Gunold polyester, and Maderia polyneon. I like Maderia the best. Gunold and Sulky are tied for second, they are great but I have had some thread breaks. Coats and Clark goes in third place, it works well, but I've had some thread breaks and a teeny bit of looping. I plan to try Polystar thread next. I am going to recommend what others told me. Try out several brands before investing in an entire collection of thread. You would hate to buy a 100 spool set only to find out that your machine hates it.<br /><br />*Some threads just shred more easily such as reds (not sure why) and metalic thread. For those, you will want some <a href="http://www.wawak.com/products/product.cfm/pid/14851/Collins-Sewers-Aid-Lube-1-2-oz-/">Sewer's Aid</a>&nbsp;but I'll talk about that tomorrow<br /><br />One more thing about thread weight. Embroidery thread usually comes in 40wt or 50wt. The bigger the number, the thinner the thread. Your bobbin thread is 70-90wt and is very fine.<br /><b><br /></b><b>Now that you know all your options of WHAT you can buy. WHERE can you buy it?</b><br /><br /><u>Local Shops</u><br />Embroidery Machine Dealers: going to be a little more expensive here but they are more likely to carry the nicer brands and it's always nice to see a color in person when you are looking to match a certain shade.<br /><br />Joanns or Hancock: You will find the machine embroidery thread right next to the regular sewing thread. They carry sulky and coats and clark brand thread. Their threads occasionally go on sale and and they offer 40% coupons. (note that Hobby Lobby is not included- my local HL does not carry embroidery threads perhaps yours might though?). The cost of a 180 yds 30wt sulky rayon thread at Joanns is $3.59<br /><br />Walmart: if your Walmart has a fabric section, you will probably be able to find a limited number of Coats and Clark brand embroidery thread. Not my top choice, but if I'm in a bind and need thread quick I'll pick some up from Walmart.<br /><br /><u>Online</u><br />Shopping online is great. You can find higher quality brands for MUCH better prices. The downside is you'll have to pay for shipping and you cannot see the exact color you are going to get (it can be frustrating to realize that the cream you thought you were buying is actually a very light gray!). Most of these shops also sell other embroidery supplies like stabilizer.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.allstitch.net/">Allstitch</a>&nbsp;This is where I purchased my 40wt 1,100 yd cones of Madeira thread. I was very happy with the fast shipping time, though their packaging was a little funky to be honest. It seemed like they pulled a crumbled box from their recycling pile to shove my threads into even though they didn't fit. It just didn't look very professional, but if it saves me money I'm happy. They carry Madeira polyester, polyneon, Rayon, and even glow in the dark thread. The 1,100 yd cones cost $2.26<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mrvacandmrssew.com/">Mr. Vac &amp; Mrs. Sew</a>: I've never purchased from them, but they come highly recommended. They carry Polystar thread. A 50wt 1000 meter cone is $2.99<br /><br /><a href="http://kenssewingcenter.com/">Ken's Sewing Center</a>: Again, never personally purchased from, but have heard very good things. They carry Exquisite and Madeira thread. A 1000 meter cone of Exquisite cost $2.50 right now<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wawak.com/products/product.cfm/pid/10694/Gunold-Embroidery-Thread-1-100-yds-61005-Black/">Wawak</a>&nbsp;I love to buy sewing supplies from Wawak (like zippers, serger thread, woly nylon thread) So I tried their Gunold embroidery thread. They also carry a small selection of Mardeira colors. A 1,100yard spool of 40wt Madeira thread cost 4.89, a 1,100yd 40wt polyester Gunold thread cost $2.19<br /><br /><a href="http://metroemb.com/store/">Metro Embroidery</a>&nbsp;Never purchased from these guys either, but this is where you can buy metro thread. They are very affordable and come recommended from other embroiderers. Their metro mini spool (1000m) 40 wt polyester thread is marked at .89 a spool right now.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.threadart.com/c-2-thread.aspx">Thread Art</a>&nbsp;was also recommended to me. A cone of 1000m Rayon thread is currently $1.49<br /><br />I hope this helps to get you started. Try some out and let me know how you like it in the comments. I will update this I as I try more brands.http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/07/what-machine-embroidery-thread-should-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-6944115074710433516Tue, 07 Jul 2015 12:30:00 +00002015-07-07T05:30:01.562-07:00All I know about machine embroiderymachine embroideryWhat is the best affordable embroidery machine?<div class="MsoNormal">If you want to get into machine embroidery, the first thing you are going to need is a machine. When I started researching machines, I knew I wanted an inexpensive machine (under $1,000) but not a piece of crap either. The most popular models that sell for under a thousand are the Brother se440, pe525, pe770, Janome MC200E, and Singer Futura XL400. (There are more models, but these are the ones I focused on). The most important aspects of a machine (in my opinion) are the price, the size of the embroidery field, how it connects to a computer, and the quality. If you have never machine embroidered before I strongly recommend starting with something under a thousand dollars to learn on and make sure you enjoy embroidery before investing in a multi-needle machine that costs as much as a car. (I've totally seen people ready to buy a $20,000 embroidery machine who know nothing about machine embroidery. And by "buy" I mean commit to years of payments and interest. Not the wisest financial decision).<br /><br />Here's a summary graphic that you can print out and write your research notes on. Click on the graphic to view larger.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp_1b0YZXa4/VXMK92pu1fI/AAAAAAAAJnM/QWJ0x4d54t4/s1600/Machinechart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp_1b0YZXa4/VXMK92pu1fI/AAAAAAAAJnM/QWJ0x4d54t4/s640/Machinechart.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>A few notes about other similar models:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><ul><li>The Brother PE525 is the newest upgrade of the PE500 (instead of a pink swirly design on the outside there is now a purple flower design)</li><li>The Brother 540D is basically the SE440 but with Disney stickers on the outside and includes 35 Disney designs and costs $70 more.</li><li>The Brother LB6800PRW is basically the SE440 but with a Project Runway sticker on the front</li></ul></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Pricing</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">For this chart, I used the prices that Amazon listed the day I wrote this. The prices fluctuate all the time, and vary by stores as well. Embroidery machines DO go on sale. Last Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) Walmart had the se440 for only $199. Amazon had the pe770 for $500 on the "flash deals". Just a few months ago (in March) Overstock.com had a sale on the pe770 for $480 and just an hour later Amazon matched their price. So it is definitely worth watching the prices if you are willing to wait to save some money.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Do I want a combo sewing machine and embroidery machine?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Do you already have a sewing machine?</i> &nbsp;then get an embroidery only machine. If you don't have a sewing machine, then it seems to be an economical choice to get a two-in-one. Although, I have heard that the combo machines are more likely to have problems.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Do you have room enough for another machine?</i> I used to sew from my kitchen table, I know I could not have had a sewing machine AND embroidery machine with that set up. I have a small sewing room that I had to squeeze my serger over next to my sewing machine to make room for my embroidery machine. I thought I might put my embroidery machine up in the closet and pull it out occasionally, but I found I liked it better set up all the time. Even better, I can sew on my sewing machine while my embroidery is running.</div><b><br /></b><b>USB verses Cable Connection</b><br />When you purchase an embroidery design you need to get the embroidery files onto your machine. For the machines like the pe500 you have to connect it directly to your computer with a cable. Essentially you will need a laptop to sit right next to your machine. I don't have that kind of room in my sewing room and sounds like a hassle to me. Others will probably disagree, but for me it's worth the extra money just to have the USB option. With the USB option, you place your files onto your USB memory stick (aka <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JR532M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B007JR532M&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=crafzuzz-20&amp;linkId=G5CGEWL7P4P7BSGQ">jump drive or flash drive</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crafzuzz-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B007JR532M" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />) and then plug the USB into your machine.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>What about the included designs and fonts?</b><br />All the machine listings talk about so and so many designs and fonts that are included on the machine. This should not affect your decision making process. You really don't need to worry about those numbers because they are all ugly (with maybe a couple exceptions). You will want to purchase some nice fonts, and pretty designs online. (post on where to buy coming soon).<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>About Singer</b><br />The Singer Futura has some extras worth mentioning: an automatic needle-threader,&nbsp; included software, and multi-hooping capability to make designs up to 12"x 20". Those features sound very nice, but be warned &nbsp;Singer has a very bad reputation for making piece of junk machines. I have never used the Futura machine so I cannot say from experience, but I would be wary. Just look at the Amazon reviews (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YEZLVG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004YEZLVG&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=crafzuzz-20&amp;linkId=KCBZSYZGSB3SYUCB">Futura</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crafzuzz-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B004YEZLVG" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;on the left, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MQI2NM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B002MQI2NM&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=crafzuzz-20&amp;linkId=4R6DDHE2AO43GQG4">PE770</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crafzuzz-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B002MQI2NM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;on the right).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYgtUv4eK5o/VZrVGehBwtI/AAAAAAAAJq8/3u7_17YOa9o/s1600/futuraamazonreveiws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XYgtUv4eK5o/VZrVGehBwtI/AAAAAAAAJq8/3u7_17YOa9o/s200/futuraamazonreveiws.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8EMHRA_a6w/VZrVsg0WpQI/AAAAAAAAJrE/p62WU9btD7U/s1600/pe770amazonreviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8EMHRA_a6w/VZrVsg0WpQI/AAAAAAAAJrE/p62WU9btD7U/s200/pe770amazonreviews.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Multi-hooping Capability</b><br />Embroidery machines have the option to buy larger repositional embroidery hoops. To use them you must have computer software to split a larger embroidery design into portions for each position (peg) on your <span style="font-family: inherit;">repositional hoop. (Post on what software should I buy coming next)</span><br /><span style="color: #1e2c38; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1e2c38;">I just purchased <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EDNX1H4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00EDNX1H4&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=crafzuzz-20&amp;linkId=E67HVHYIOYJZHUED">this set</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crafzuzz-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00EDNX1H4" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;from Amazon for 5X7 machines: I paid $58 for it, though prices do fluctuate. It comes with four embroidery hoops. The larger 5"x12" (giving an extra 5" of embroidery space) A 5"x7" (I already have one of these that came with my machine so now I'll have an extra) a 1"x2.5" and a 4"x4" which will be great for saving stabilizer when embroidery smaller projects.&nbsp;</span>For the 4x4 machines you can get a set like&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DUF0UC0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00DUF0UC0&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=crafzuzz-20&amp;linkId=AR5HD6T74DJO2YZJ">this one</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crafzuzz-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00DUF0UC0" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;giving you a maximum of 4"x 6.75" space</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #1e2c38;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have only used my 5"x12" hoop a few times, so I'm still learning, but from my limited use I think it's great to be able to stitch larger designs. The process does take more time, but it's not very hard. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-WbwTsaEI8">Here is a great youtube video</a> to give you an idea of what I'm talking about&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="color: #1e2c38; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Where do I buy?<o:p></o:p></b></div>You can purchase from a dealer's shop, you will pay a couple hundred more dollars but you will probably get free lessons to learn how to use your machine which may be worth it to you. There are plenty of youtube videos out there to help <span style="font-family: inherit;">you, so you don't really NEED the lessons. For me, a mom of two crazy kids and a husband who works 80-100 hours a wee</span>k, there is no way I could go to a shop and take lessons. So I purchased mine from Amazon. &nbsp;Amazon usually has the best prices and I've been very happy with Amazon's return policy so I knew if I got a lemon I could easily return it with no hassle. I know several people who have purchased their machines from Overstock.com, Walmart, and Joanns. Always check the prices, because sometimes there is $50-$200 difference in costs between the stores.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnQmtFHToL4/VZrenD4aKBI/AAAAAAAAJrU/s-jA12ExGFw/s1600/pe770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnQmtFHToL4/VZrenD4aKBI/AAAAAAAAJrU/s-jA12ExGFw/s640/pe770.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1e2c38;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><b style="color: #1e2c38; font-size: 10.5pt;">What did Zuzzy end up buying?</b></span><br /><span style="color: #1e2c38; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">I chose the Brother PE770. In the end it was between the PE500 (the 525 wasn't out yet) and PE770. I talked to several embroiderers who own both machines, and they told me they really liked their 500s and could do a lot with a 4x4 field BUT they almost&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">immediately</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">&nbsp;wanted to upgrade, and most did within a year. I was convinced that the larger embroidery field was worth the cost. So far I&nbsp;have been VERY happy with my machine.</span></span></div>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/07/what-is-best-affordable-embroidery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-6422880082340448412Mon, 06 Jul 2015 19:08:00 +00002015-07-06T12:08:36.404-07:00All I know about machine embroiderymachine embroideryAll I know about machine embroidery<div class="MsoNormal">I've been promising this post for a while. But there is so much information to include, I'm going to split it up into several posts and answer the follow questions:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">-What embroidery machine should I buy?</div><div class="MsoNormal">-What embroidery supplies do I need, and where do I buy them?<br />-Where do I get cute embroidery designs?<br />-What embroidery software should I get?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>For the first post I want to share how I got into machine embroidery.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It started with a shirt I saw on Etsy. I was looking at Frozen themed birthday ideas for Christine and I saw this amazing embroidered frozen birthday shirt on Etsy. I fell in love with it. I NEEDED that shirt! Except it was $30, which seemed pretty expensive to me. In retrospect I probably should have just bought the t-shirt instead of the $600 machine, and several more hundred dollars in supplies!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/1216089/221318667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/1216089/221318667.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The shop is on vacation right now, but it looked like this shirt</div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I belonged to a facebook sewing group that had a lot of embroiders in it and I started paying more attention to embroidery posts. Then I started looking at etsy shops selling embroidered items. Looking at all the amazing things they were making, made me just HAVE to have an embroidery machine.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://img0.etsystatic.com/029/0/8731185/il_570xN.582764168_ctgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/029/0/8731185/il_570xN.582764168_ctgo.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/likhaan?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Olaf dress by likhaan</a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My husband was working a pretty bad rotation at the hospital at the time, so I think he was feeling bad about his work schedule and the impact it has on me. He knows how happy my hobbies make me. So he encouraged me to get the machine.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Why should YOU get a machine?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Because it is FUN</div><div class="MsoNormal">You can make ADORABLE things</div><div class="MsoNormal">It's a new CHALLENGE. I sew and I do hand embroidery, but machine embroidery is a whole new crafting world.</div><div class="MsoNormal">So you can have MORE sewing machines! Because the more sewing machines you have the cooler you are!</div>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/07/all-i-know-about-machine-embroidery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-5938601986586136928Fri, 19 Jun 2015 17:21:00 +00002015-06-19T10:21:29.669-07:00Project Run and PlayProject Run and Play: Frozen Fever DressJune was a busy month for us. The kids and I were visiting my family in Utah for half the month while Daddy was working long hard hours at the hospital. But I managed to squeeze some time in for my favorite sew along. This month was a fun one. Y'all know how I love dress ups. This month's challenge was <a href="http://kikicomin.com/diy-frozen-elsa-dress-tutorial-the-skirt/">Kiki and Company's Elsa Dress up.</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZHEfu1BjYI/VYRAw_Xbo7I/AAAAAAAAJn4/2vazG8wXTVE/s1600/dress02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZHEfu1BjYI/VYRAw_Xbo7I/AAAAAAAAJn4/2vazG8wXTVE/s1600/dress02.jpg" /></a></div>When the challenge was announced, I knew immediately that I needed to make Elsa's Frozen Fever dress. This tutorial was perfect for it. If you don't know (how do you not know?!) Disney included a little short film before the live action Cinderella movie about Elsa celebrating Anna's birthday, and of course they have brand new summer dresses.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/76/2b/22/762b223189bba69d54432ba6e66044fe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/76/2b/22/762b223189bba69d54432ba6e66044fe.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbctyE6avkw/VYRAxGZNXVI/AAAAAAAAJoA/3x6bfeW5bXU/s1600/dress04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbctyE6avkw/VYRAxGZNXVI/AAAAAAAAJoA/3x6bfeW5bXU/s1600/dress04.jpg" /></a></div>It's a FAST sew. Seriously. I went to the fabric store on Tuesday, as in three days ago.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcYwwezhz5U/VYRAxdkCT1I/AAAAAAAAJn8/qle-64OMGmQ/s1600/dress03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcYwwezhz5U/VYRAxdkCT1I/AAAAAAAAJn8/qle-64OMGmQ/s1600/dress03.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cape is this green sparkly costume fabric. It looks fabulous and is my daughter's favorite, BUT there is now green glitter all over my sewing room. I had to give my sewing machine a good cleaning after sewing through this sparkly stuff because GLITTER. ALL. OVER.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--lhjcQdJYM4/VYRILH3wjvI/AAAAAAAAJps/jNocen-qxts/s1600/dress14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--lhjcQdJYM4/VYRILH3wjvI/AAAAAAAAJps/jNocen-qxts/s1600/dress14.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I cut out flowers from pink felt and used fabric glue (fabri-fix) to glue them on. The raw edge of the cape was finished by zigzagging across the edge (because I didn't want to buy 3 spools of green thread to do a rolled hem).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHKyrOwGLNk/VYRINKyux_I/AAAAAAAAJp0/0VEdAA5_D4A/s1600/dress16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHKyrOwGLNk/VYRINKyux_I/AAAAAAAAJp0/0VEdAA5_D4A/s1600/dress16.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtRBiOLlj9c/VYRAxnEp83I/AAAAAAAAJoQ/Z5xfnDIazaQ/s1600/dress05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtRBiOLlj9c/VYRAxnEp83I/AAAAAAAAJoQ/Z5xfnDIazaQ/s1600/dress05.jpg" /></a></div>I only slightly modified the tutorial by adding sleeves to the dress. They are just rectangles sewn together and gathered where they attach to the bodice. They will help hold the top up, and because Christine insisted that the dress have sleeves because Elsa's dress has sleeves mom! She even drew me some "pattern pieces" to use. It was pretty adorable.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BnXYtOeGzeQ/VYRJhtTMsPI/AAAAAAAAJqM/nVM9wnESqjs/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BnXYtOeGzeQ/VYRJhtTMsPI/AAAAAAAAJqM/nVM9wnESqjs/s640/IMG_3864.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This will give you an idea of sleeve placement, and velcro placement for the cape. It's very simple for Christine to do by herself.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVImWr4X21g/VYRIF2MCwLI/AAAAAAAAJpI/5CTHznHvehI/s1600/dress10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVImWr4X21g/VYRIF2MCwLI/AAAAAAAAJpI/5CTHznHvehI/s200/dress10.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rZkJVxXkZzw/VYRIGRs5WZI/AAAAAAAAJpM/8cZZlvXAPAk/s1600/dress11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rZkJVxXkZzw/VYRIGRs5WZI/AAAAAAAAJpM/8cZZlvXAPAk/s200/dress11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w0OcRyE5TIg/VYRIIaFN7gI/AAAAAAAAJpY/1x7cyq1bUsE/s1600/dress12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w0OcRyE5TIg/VYRIIaFN7gI/AAAAAAAAJpY/1x7cyq1bUsE/s1600/dress12.jpg" /></a></div>The skirt is a basic rectangle. But I had a HARD time finding the right color of fabric at the store. So I ended up mixing three colors together. I layered together this neon green polysatin, a blue chiffon, and a green tulle. It think together it works.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vjv-XQK3_j4/VYRIN1wS6KI/AAAAAAAAJp8/_QWYx5UPui0/s1600/dress17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vjv-XQK3_j4/VYRIN1wS6KI/AAAAAAAAJp8/_QWYx5UPui0/s1600/dress17.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s1ffHbyVT6g/VYRIK8ENzlI/AAAAAAAAJpo/NCJHj5iSVak/s1600/dress15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s1ffHbyVT6g/VYRIK8ENzlI/AAAAAAAAJpo/NCJHj5iSVak/s1600/dress15.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-QLl26ZODY/VYRIIUd4prI/AAAAAAAAJpc/RIkCKlKXT74/s1600/dress13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-QLl26ZODY/VYRIIUd4prI/AAAAAAAAJpc/RIkCKlKXT74/s1600/dress13.jpg" /></a></div>To complete the Elsa summer look, I needed a flower for her hair. I made a pink Kanzashi flower (<a href="http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2013/03/round-petal-kanzashi-flower-tutorial.html">tutorial from Pumpkin and a Princess</a>- you don't need the plastic circle guide. I just traced a cup for my circle and eyeballed four basting stitches). I need a little more practice, but I think it's adorable.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAadHSpqr4Y/VYRIFGjeznI/AAAAAAAAJo8/RPMub_giIwI/s1600/dress09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAadHSpqr4Y/VYRIFGjeznI/AAAAAAAAJo8/RPMub_giIwI/s640/dress09.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>For more project run and play looks<a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/06/june-link-up-party.html"> check out the linky party here</a>.http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/06/project-run-and-play-frozen-fever-dress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-8306257683912871792Fri, 22 May 2015 20:29:00 +00002015-05-22T13:29:49.701-07:00Project Run and PlayProject Run and Play: May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN0p1lO09GA/VV9_WoYweaI/AAAAAAAAJls/8TqzRH30Flg/s1600/dressremix90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN0p1lO09GA/VV9_WoYweaI/AAAAAAAAJls/8TqzRH30Flg/s1600/dressremix90.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another month, another Project Run and Play challenge! We've had so much rain all week long, I had to settle for indoor photos today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMR5FL7Q0Xo/VV-A6R5FLJI/AAAAAAAAJmI/dBzMGcYCVbs/s1600/persnicketyshorts.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMR5FL7Q0Xo/VV-A6R5FLJI/AAAAAAAAJmI/dBzMGcYCVbs/s1600/persnicketyshorts.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This month's remix is the the <a href="http://craftycupboard.net/2013/04/summer-chevrons-shirt/">Summer Chevron shirt</a>. It's a great free pattern from Crafty Cupboard. It reminded me a lot of the above&nbsp;<a href="https://www.persnicketyclothing.com/">Persnickey</a>&nbsp;photo I pinned (literally! I'm talkin' old school pinterest) on my inspiration board in my craft room. (The outfit is no longer available from Persnickety- it's like two years old). &nbsp;I have wanted to recreate this look for a long time, and this pattern was PERFECT for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O85KaICZvIc/VV9_Uijw4DI/AAAAAAAAJlU/DwDtL1dhO9s/s1600/dressremix7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O85KaICZvIc/VV9_Uijw4DI/AAAAAAAAJlU/DwDtL1dhO9s/s1600/dressremix7.jpg" /></a></div>I had this great green print I got from the same fabulous estate sale I keep mentioning. I have no idea what type of fabric it is, but it is soft and has a great drape (and also frays like crazy). I knew it would be great for this look. &nbsp;The beautiful blue vintage buttons also came from the same estate sale. Then I had some white muslin that I have yards and yards of. You always need lots of white muslin right?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wSwxZRBf1fk/VV9_SzXMfWI/AAAAAAAAJks/3zOdSB_MZ88/s1600/dressremix1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wSwxZRBf1fk/VV9_SzXMfWI/AAAAAAAAJks/3zOdSB_MZ88/s1600/dressremix1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So let's talk about how I remixed this pattern. I started with the size 3. I trued up the corners on the neckline so it would hang nicely and be a little less square, then I added 3 inches to the skirt width for a nice gather, then I lengthened it by several inches to make it a dress. Then I turned the bodice around so the buttons would be in the front. I altered the closure slightly so I could have an overlapping button placket to be like the persnickety dress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYcnFCgPHGU/VV9_XAIAukI/AAAAAAAAJlw/yGh_nX8enrY/s1600/dressremix91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYcnFCgPHGU/VV9_XAIAukI/AAAAAAAAJlw/yGh_nX8enrY/s1600/dressremix91.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MdAEYQYjTH4/VV9_VKHSPhI/AAAAAAAAJlM/CevDz5Db108/s1600/dressremix8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MdAEYQYjTH4/VV9_VKHSPhI/AAAAAAAAJlM/CevDz5Db108/s1600/dressremix8.jpg" /></a></div>Then of course I NEEDED those ruffle shorts that almost look like a petticoat. I drafted the shorts by adding a few inches in width and waistband to my basic shorts sloper. Then I added two ruffles. ADORABLE. I am in love.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFxHTwEAjnI/VV9_Tu54qtI/AAAAAAAAJk4/7DKNSQMs3jw/s1600/dressremix4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFxHTwEAjnI/VV9_Tu54qtI/AAAAAAAAJk4/7DKNSQMs3jw/s1600/dressremix4.jpg" /></a></div>Do you notice anything fancy about the finishing on the ruffles and the flutter sleeve? That's a ROLLED HEM!! I have owned my serger for TWO years and I finally was brave enough to do a rolled hem. Let me tell you, it is so EASY! I was terrified about removing my stitch finger on the serger, but it's really easy to take on and off. I am going to do rolled hems a lot now that I know how to do this! I watched<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0_VFCOv_bA"> this super helpful video from CKC</a>&nbsp;and read <a href="http://www.lbg-studio.com/2010/07/brother-1034d-rolled-hem-mini-tutorial.html">this blog post from LBG</a>&nbsp;and that's it. They each suggest different settings and I experimented and ended up using a combo of their suggestions. I used a 5 for my right needle, 5.5 for upper looper, 7 for the lower looper, 1 for the differential feed, R for stitch length, and R for stitch width.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XUiMyyp6_pc/VV9_UFxpzeI/AAAAAAAAJlc/yYPE6QMsHAc/s1600/dressremix5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XUiMyyp6_pc/VV9_UFxpzeI/AAAAAAAAJlc/yYPE6QMsHAc/s1600/dressremix5.jpg" /></a></div>Seriously, those ruffles would have taken forever to hem. Instead I just ran them through the serger so quick! and I loooooove how pretty the rolled hem looks!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UF-7wGLZhnw/VV9_WOdcU4I/AAAAAAAAJlk/-CwfD_RFOZY/s1600/dressremix9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UF-7wGLZhnw/VV9_WOdcU4I/AAAAAAAAJlk/-CwfD_RFOZY/s1600/dressremix9.jpg" /></a></div>Does that blue stripe bother anyone else? I didn't pay attention to the fabric and just gathered and sewed it, and it happened to end up just askew to the blue buttons. Hmph.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ae51c2Z66L4/VV9_S_e3u7I/AAAAAAAAJkw/c_jDjdRTV4o/s1600/dressremix3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ae51c2Z66L4/VV9_S_e3u7I/AAAAAAAAJkw/c_jDjdRTV4o/s1600/dressremix3.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-McRYdKodBh0/VV9_S1vDhYI/AAAAAAAAJk0/yamLxf1QK4Q/s1600/dressremix2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-McRYdKodBh0/VV9_S1vDhYI/AAAAAAAAJk0/yamLxf1QK4Q/s1600/dressremix2.jpg" /></a></div>Anyone spot the green lego? Can you tell I pushed aside a huge pile of legos to take these pictures?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iGLL8Rlk99I/VV9_US2BjLI/AAAAAAAAJlE/_A8TGjpu9D8/s1600/dressremix6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iGLL8Rlk99I/VV9_US2BjLI/AAAAAAAAJlE/_A8TGjpu9D8/s1600/dressremix6.jpg" /></a></div>Don't let Miss sassy pants trick you into thinking she's being sweet here. She's thinking about her Twilight Sparkle My Little Pony carriage she's going to buy with the dollar I bribed her with to let me take these photos interrupting her lego-crushing monster-free time (aka Jacob's nap time).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/05/mays-link-up-party-for-summer-chevrons.html">Check out all the other Project Run and Play entries here</a>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/05/project-run-and-play-may.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-7556747415322524691Thu, 07 May 2015 16:22:00 +00002015-05-07T09:22:52.053-07:00Zuzzy PatternsSpruce Shorts for Fluffy Bums: Free Pattern Add-on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5ZKGCSXnu4/VUuFDVb70mI/AAAAAAAAJj0/HCwlGen9GGQ/s1600/fluffycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5ZKGCSXnu4/VUuFDVb70mI/AAAAAAAAJj0/HCwlGen9GGQ/s1600/fluffycover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was surprised by how many of my pattern testers use cloth diapers. About half! They asked me for suggestions on how to adjust the spruce shorts for fluffy bums (an affectionate term for cloth diaper babies) Should we add 1" to the height? Should we sew a size larger? Well, the true answer is that they need a different shaped back piece to allow for the extra bulk. So they convinced me that I needed an add-on pattern piece for the pattern. (<a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/spruce-shorts-fluffy-bum-add-on/143903?fresh=true&amp;NAVIGATION_PAGE_CONTEXT_ATTR=PATTERN">you can find the free download here</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPVpvEqjoJo/VUuHR3ct1vI/AAAAAAAAJkA/GelcyoLX3CQ/s1600/FluffyBumillustration-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPVpvEqjoJo/VUuHR3ct1vI/AAAAAAAAJkA/GelcyoLX3CQ/s640/FluffyBumillustration-05.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is what the difference of original back piece (blue) and the fluffy bum back piece (gray). So you see there is a longer back rise and extra width.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh4A2mGXuV8/VUt_oqYZseI/AAAAAAAAJjc/dDwIYsAxd1U/s1600/cloth%2Bdiaper%2Breg%2Bfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh4A2mGXuV8/VUt_oqYZseI/AAAAAAAAJjc/dDwIYsAxd1U/s640/cloth%2Bdiaper%2Breg%2Bfit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>These were NOT tested with the usual care I give my other patterns. I am not a cloth diaper expert, plus there is SO much variation in cloth diapers. It depends on what brand you use, how many inserts you use, and the shape of your child. For some, you might not even need the extra piece, the original pattern may work just fine for you. The above photo shows the regular Spruce Shorts with cloth diaper on.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ssHKMxq7fIk/VUt_om3P9TI/AAAAAAAAJjU/VEUywMxaSRc/s1600/cloth%2Bdiaper%2Bthree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ssHKMxq7fIk/VUt_om3P9TI/AAAAAAAAJjU/VEUywMxaSRc/s640/cloth%2Bdiaper%2Bthree.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>This mommy called this diaper her "huge nappy" (it's a baby beehinds diaper if you were curious) and you can tell the regular pattern would never get over that adorable diaper! I hope this is helpful to cloth diaper mommas! <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/spruce-shorts-fluffy-bum-add-on/143903?fresh=true&amp;NAVIGATION_PAGE_CONTEXT_ATTR=PATTERN">You can download the free pattern add-on from my Craftsy shop here</a>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/05/spruce-shorts-for-fluffy-bums-free.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-5776099490396590016Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:57:00 +00002015-04-29T08:57:06.851-07:00KCWKCW: Matching Striped PajamasThese matching pajamas have been a long time in the making.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Itk4AuDYklc/VUD5N-DYiZI/AAAAAAAAJiE/0WTjb5Z4OxU/s1600/pjs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Itk4AuDYklc/VUD5N-DYiZI/AAAAAAAAJiE/0WTjb5Z4OxU/s1600/pjs1.jpg" /></a></div>I wanted to use two new pajama patterns (<a href="http://www.brindilletwig.com/collections/bottoms/products/008-footie-leggings">Brindle and Twig Footie Leggings</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203000972/new-all-you-need-jammies-pajamas-pattern?ref=shop_home_active_12">Heidi and Finn all you need jammies</a>) for the kids' Christmas pajamas, but I didn't have enough fabric for mistakes. I had never used either pattern so I wanted to check sizing fit. I would hate to cut out a size too small and not be able to pull off my Christine jammie dream.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7CmQtstKkOI/VUD5N6IxAkI/AAAAAAAAJiI/Qsaj7MGj5kQ/s1600/pjs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7CmQtstKkOI/VUD5N6IxAkI/AAAAAAAAJiI/Qsaj7MGj5kQ/s1600/pjs2.jpg" /></a></div>So I cut out jammies for both kids in this fun striped neon knit I got from Girl Charlee for crazy cheap. It's a thin light weight knit, not good for winter, but PERFECT for summer.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jfuQ0sb__k/VUD5Nz7N0YI/AAAAAAAAJiA/uuVNQHqcJAQ/s1600/pjs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jfuQ0sb__k/VUD5Nz7N0YI/AAAAAAAAJiA/uuVNQHqcJAQ/s1600/pjs3.jpg" /></a></div>I finished the pants, but for the shirts I only sewed one arm and skipped hemming completely because I only needed to test length and I had Christmas jammies to sew! As soon as I knew how the patterns fit I moved on the Christmas ones and threw these unfinished ones in my cast aside projects pile.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqXxcDSnFds/VUD5OwNRJYI/AAAAAAAAJiY/0sNVkzb4cNw/s1600/pjs4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqXxcDSnFds/VUD5OwNRJYI/AAAAAAAAJiY/0sNVkzb4cNw/s1600/pjs4.jpg" /></a></div>And there they sat. Unloved. Then for KCW Winter last January I meant to finish them. Well, I didn't get too far. I finished Christine's shirt but didn't touch Jacobs.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HwRwZzvlwM/VUD5PE64duI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/-PVaN-EtV4A/s1600/pjs5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HwRwZzvlwM/VUD5PE64duI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/-PVaN-EtV4A/s1600/pjs5.jpg" /></a></div>But THIS kids clothes week, I had great momentum, I already finished my list and still had a day to go plus I had the double needle set up on my machine, so I finished this bad boy up real quick. Now the kids look stinkin' adorable in their matching jammie sets.<br /><br />I got the nonskid bottom fabric with cute little footprints on it from etsy shop&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilbabythangs">Lilbabythangs</a>&nbsp;but it looks like they are going out of business and getting rid of their inventory. Too bad because the nonskid fabric is adorable.<br /><br />As for the patterns. I really liked the Heidi and Finn all you need pajamas- pj top. There really isn't anything special about the top I choose to sew up. I really need to try out all the other options that it came with. The Brindle and Twig pants pattern was okay. The soles were a little small, and honestly I wished I had purchased Peekaboo patterns' <a href="http://www.peekaboopatternshop.com/happy-feet-pajamas/">Happy Feet Pajamas</a>&nbsp;instead.<br /><br />Regardless, these pajamas are so cute and the kids love to match. The light-weight knit make these perfect for summer around here.http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/kcw-matching-striped-pajamas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-4809233712650037823Tue, 28 Apr 2015 15:33:00 +00002015-04-28T08:33:21.071-07:00KCWKCW: Panda Shirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;<a href="http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/project-run-and-play-april-challenge.html">Jacob's striped shirt</a>&nbsp;made it to the top ten over at Project Run and Play! I'd love for you to <a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/04/aprils-challenge-top-ten-vote-now.html">go over and vote for me!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jWG2gq09TA/VT-ire4yOEI/AAAAAAAAJg8/Ob5vRRY8oCk/s1600/pandashirt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jWG2gq09TA/VT-ire4yOEI/AAAAAAAAJg8/Ob5vRRY8oCk/s1600/pandashirt2.jpg" /></a></div>I decided to not even try to blog all my Kids Clothes Week projects last week to help me get my entire list sewn, and it worked! I was super productive last week. Except now it's Tuesday and I'm writing about KCW and I feel like KCW was "sooooo last week". Most of the bloggers who sew for KCW AND blog about it actually sew all their stuff a week or two before, which I feel is not in the spirit of the challenge.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evU-r6w3bJk/VT-irQRi7xI/AAAAAAAAJhA/CQ9zD20vCow/s1600/pandashirt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evU-r6w3bJk/VT-irQRi7xI/AAAAAAAAJhA/CQ9zD20vCow/s1600/pandashirt3.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp;I'm sure you all saw a little sneak peak of this panda shirt on <a href="http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/project-run-and-play-april-challenge.html">the post about Jacob's shirt and shorts</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWwaQUMFUVY/VT-is05LEvI/AAAAAAAAJhI/Rr6Kz_f-Rf8/s1600/pandashirt6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWwaQUMFUVY/VT-is05LEvI/AAAAAAAAJhI/Rr6Kz_f-Rf8/s1600/pandashirt6.jpg" /></a></div>The theme for this season's KCW was Wild Things. So I wanted to do something with that. The panda face was super simple. I created the face on my Silhouette software and cut it out of heat transfer material, and ironed it on to the front of the shirt. Bam! adorable shirt!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FHBiPD5FYfU/VT-itZeKyhI/AAAAAAAAJhM/hKiOz1Anq0g/s1600/pandashirt7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FHBiPD5FYfU/VT-itZeKyhI/AAAAAAAAJhM/hKiOz1Anq0g/s1600/pandashirt7.jpg" /></a></div>I drafted this t-shirt pattern- which I'm calling the Marigold tee. I love the length and the curve and the slight flare. I've written before about how Christine needs extra long shirts for preschool, and this shirt is PERFECT for preschool! The fabric is from my stash (leftover from a dress I made myself-yep we can wear them at the same time and be twinners).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXqLH9TRmz4/VT-irb6mjMI/AAAAAAAAJg4/RtKJY3K0vco/s1600/pandashirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXqLH9TRmz4/VT-irb6mjMI/AAAAAAAAJg4/RtKJY3K0vco/s1600/pandashirt1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp;I am for sure going to make some more animal face shirts. I think Jacob needs a bear face shirt!http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/kcw-panda-shirt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-8698544272347806174Mon, 27 Apr 2015 12:42:00 +00002015-04-27T05:42:19.950-07:00KCWKCW: Embroidered Geranium Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aIRinJml9g/VT4oof5-IHI/AAAAAAAAJgI/WYie9PmGH0s/s1600/dress5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1aIRinJml9g/VT4oof5-IHI/AAAAAAAAJgI/WYie9PmGH0s/s1600/dress5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">KCW is all done, and I finished my entire list! I'm so excited.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLR24rRg0uM/VT4onO_gl4I/AAAAAAAAJf8/EgJceBdIX68/s1600/dress2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLR24rRg0uM/VT4onO_gl4I/AAAAAAAAJf8/EgJceBdIX68/s1600/dress2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This dress was definitely a project for me, not stubborn girl here. She is so picky with her wardrobe I wasn't sure if she would even wear this. But luckily she informed me that Snow White has deer friends, and so it's a princess dress. Nice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYXupIwRVNY/VT4oonMbH6I/AAAAAAAAJgM/YdW-TGSzffU/s1600/dress6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYXupIwRVNY/VT4oonMbH6I/AAAAAAAAJgM/YdW-TGSzffU/s1600/dress6.jpg" /></a></div>I have been wanting to try embroidering a dress bodice for a long time, and I finally did it! I used an embroidery pattern from Tamar Nahir Yanai she has this pattern available in her<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/154926011/embroidery-pattern-pdf-pattern-instant?ref=shop_home_active_7"> etsy shop here.</a>&nbsp;But I actually got my pattern from a craft magazine I bought last October in San Antonio. Isn't it adorable? I'm not sure how the hand embroidery is going to hold up in the wash. I embroidered some baby bibs four years ago that have been washed like crazy and they are still holding up strong, so I'm hoping for the best.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFZbU3fRPYE/VT4onCGWTnI/AAAAAAAAJgc/X8g6riwXxb4/s1600/dress3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFZbU3fRPYE/VT4onCGWTnI/AAAAAAAAJgc/X8g6riwXxb4/s1600/dress3.jpg" /></a></div>I used the Geranium pattern with my own drafted flutter sleeves, because her flutter sleeve pattern piece is wackadoo. I am NOT going to put a raw edge sleeve on, sorry, just can't do it. I used a 2T bodice with a 4T length skirt for skinny miss here. The skirt fabric is from Aneela Hooey's Petal line, that I got on my <a href="http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/03/dallas-fabric-district-shopping.html">Dallas fabric warehouse shopping trip</a>. The sleeves I used some orchid kona cotton that I purchased for quilt I am going to be making soon.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_TTLbtJ2lI/VT4onXWOTwI/AAAAAAAAJgA/IJ9EXUzVHwU/s1600/dress4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_TTLbtJ2lI/VT4onXWOTwI/AAAAAAAAJgA/IJ9EXUzVHwU/s1600/dress4.jpg" /></a></div>For the back buttons I used some adorable orange buttons I found at an estate sale a few weeks ago (I bought yards of fabric, vintage patterns, and piles of vintage buttons. It was an awesome score, maybe I'll post about it soon).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh8T1QMaQNI/VT4oxTJWVyI/AAAAAAAAJgk/jB5-ow_OuzM/s1600/Christineface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh8T1QMaQNI/VT4oxTJWVyI/AAAAAAAAJgk/jB5-ow_OuzM/s1600/Christineface.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>Christine jumped in front of the camera for this shot. She's so funny. She loved her dress and wore it yesterday to church. I'm excited about the extra length on this, hopefully she won't outgrow it too quickly.http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/kcw-embroidered-geranium-dress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-6433912149456967111Thu, 23 Apr 2015 18:54:00 +00002015-04-23T11:55:03.665-07:00ChestnutPantsKCWProject Run and PlayZuzzy PatternsProject Run and Play: April Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0Y1VY6hfKg/VTk3lyUVf4I/AAAAAAAAJfQ/soBbE1FNAlE/s1600/Blueshirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0Y1VY6hfKg/VTk3lyUVf4I/AAAAAAAAJfQ/soBbE1FNAlE/s1600/Blueshirt1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been sewing! Check off green shorts and Project Run and Play shirt off the KCW list!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyDCVj1HLNs/VTk3l_DauXI/AAAAAAAAJfI/jXxaqvd7mOA/s1600/blueshirt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyDCVj1HLNs/VTk3l_DauXI/AAAAAAAAJfI/jXxaqvd7mOA/s1600/blueshirt3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyDQgmYiHIA/VSZaXqojAHI/AAAAAAAAPEM/vMe1JmEL5hg/s1600/free-sewing-pattern-sling-bag-satchel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OyDQgmYiHIA/VSZaXqojAHI/AAAAAAAAPEM/vMe1JmEL5hg/s1600/free-sewing-pattern-sling-bag-satchel.png" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This month challenge inspiration is the <a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2014/09/reversible-sling-bag.html">Reversible Sling bag from Sugar Bee crafts</a>. I thought it would be really fun to remix it into a boys t-shirt. I loved the contrasting stripes on the bag and decided to focus on that one element.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLyRPO6MZ5o/VTk3l71iOsI/AAAAAAAAJfE/Guq2yGBBAcY/s1600/blueshirt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLyRPO6MZ5o/VTk3l71iOsI/AAAAAAAAJfE/Guq2yGBBAcY/s1600/blueshirt2.jpg" /></a></div>I used the<a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2012/02/flashback-skinny-tee-sewing-pattern-is-here/"> flashback skinny pattern</a> and shortened the sleeves for short sleeves. Then I sliced the pattern into thirds for the color blocking like the purse. I already had the perfect blue/grey striped knits in my stash from <a href="http://www.girlcharlee.com/navy-blue-heather-gray-small-stripe-cotton-jersey-blend-knit-fabric-p-9379.html">Girl Charlee</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohCtVrzK0sU/VTk3muZXGhI/AAAAAAAAJfY/imslakI6rGw/s1600/blueshirt5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohCtVrzK0sU/VTk3muZXGhI/AAAAAAAAJfY/imslakI6rGw/s1600/blueshirt5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the back I decided to slice the pattern at a diagonal. I think it turned out pretty cool. I never would have thought to color block with stripes without this challenge, I'm definitely going to do it again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_a2UINhUwY/VTk4LUcIQxI/AAAAAAAAJfk/1snzRkvv8Vk/s1600/blueshirt6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_a2UINhUwY/VTk4LUcIQxI/AAAAAAAAJfk/1snzRkvv8Vk/s1600/blueshirt6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the shorts I made a pair of <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/chestnut-pants/135314">Chestnut pants</a>, cut off 5" from the hem, then rolled the &nbsp;hem up 1.5" for some fun spring shorts. I forgot Jacob's waist measurement and he was napping at the time so I guessed on the elastic length, and as you can see the pants are a little loose. I'll probably unpick the seam and pull the elastic out a little more so the pants fit better. On the cuffs, I didn't like how the white serged seam allowance was showing so I lined the seam allowance in bias tape for the cool stripe on the cuff. I choose an aqua/mint fabric to go for the blue/green color combo that's popular right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/250723904232038294/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d9/c0/08/d9c008f2ee61f0e2a834eb1891072e8d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See? somebody says it's trendy right now.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out the other <a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/04/aprils-linky-party-opens-today.html">Project Run and Play entries here</a></div>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/project-run-and-play-april-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-8263390733039171756Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:52:00 +00002015-04-20T12:52:18.756-07:00KCWKCW: Spring 2015<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kidsclothesweek.com/"><img alt="kid's clothes week" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/staticSite/spring15-300-square-s15.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kids Clothes Week is here! You all know how much I love KCW. Winter KCW wasn't very successful for me because I decided to tackle my WIP pile. Not so much fun. I've learned my lesson, and this time, I'm doing all FUN projects, and I'm even going along with the theme. A first for me.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's my list</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) a Geranium dress with an embroidered bodice</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) a panda face chevron t-shirt</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) a green twill pair of Chestnut Pants turned into shorts</div><div style="text-align: left;">4) my project run and play entry- a blue striped t-shirt</div>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/kcw-spring-2015.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-2773877850595762919Fri, 03 Apr 2015 04:15:00 +00002015-04-02T21:15:14.333-07:00Zuzzy PatternsThe New and Improved Spruce Shorts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdr9UrbVqgg/VR4BP43jvNI/AAAAAAAAJds/aEUcS4v6QBo/s1600/shortspattern1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdr9UrbVqgg/VR4BP43jvNI/AAAAAAAAJds/aEUcS4v6QBo/s1600/shortspattern1.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>Last Tuesday I announced on facebook that I re-released the Spruce Suspender Shorts! Ever since I put out the pattern last July I have received several requests for larger sizes. So after I put out the Chestnut pants, I knew I wanted to work on the Spruce shorts. (NOTE: everyone who previously purchased this pattern should have received the updated pattern in their inbox- if you did not receive the email simply re-download the pattern from your Etsy account or email me!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKa2w2vQ12E/VR4DFwC-_JI/AAAAAAAAJd8/jNZ6myVHQII/s1600/newspruce2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKa2w2vQ12E/VR4DFwC-_JI/AAAAAAAAJd8/jNZ6myVHQII/s1600/newspruce2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>While I was working on it, I was able to add some features that I have in the Chestnut pants- the biggest one being layered pattern tiles. If you have never used layered pattern tiles before, let me tell you, they are awesome! Layers allow you to turn on and off different sizes, so if you want to print just size 6-9 months then you turn off all the other sizes, hit print, and your printer will only print size 6-9 months! This saves on ink, and also makes it easier to see exactly where to cut (sometimes when sizes are nested together and all the sizes are converging together it's hard to see where exactly your size is- but not any more!).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ou-XP9Cdwg4/VR4DFmuHwUI/AAAAAAAAJd4/sNgSkaEvacU/s1600/newspruce3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ou-XP9Cdwg4/VR4DFmuHwUI/AAAAAAAAJd4/sNgSkaEvacU/s1600/newspruce3.jpg" /></a></div>This is my nephew. My sister was visiting last week and I convinced her to let me sew up a pair of shorts for him and get him to model the new larger sizes. My kids are pretty skinny so it's sometimes hard to visualize how the shorts are going to fit, so I was excited to get some pictures of the shorts on a meaty boy!<br />&nbsp;He is wearing a size 3 shorts with no modifications. He has a 20.5" waist and wears size 3 store bought clothes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bRWXqUoxuA/VR4DGgjEAGI/AAAAAAAAJeM/B-zeq7r6_2o/s1600/newspruce5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bRWXqUoxuA/VR4DGgjEAGI/AAAAAAAAJeM/B-zeq7r6_2o/s1600/newspruce5.jpg" /></a></div>These shorts are pretty fitted, so it's important to sew the correct size on these. I wish I could make these shorts fit EVERYONE just by going by store bought sizes. BUT what store? Target? Gap? Dillards? Mini Boden? All those stores fit differently too. That's just the nature of the pattern beast. You get a size chart (in my case the ASTM standard for body measurements) and you go by that size chart. So the best way to get the best fit is to READ THE SIZE CHART! Pull out your measuring tape and measure your child. Especially on those suspender straps! Lots of kids vary in height and torso length so read all of the fitting instructions that are included in the pattern.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oosKSLgqQn8/VR4DGTGyV2I/AAAAAAAAJeI/14xEefG75gY/s1600/newspruce4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oosKSLgqQn8/VR4DGTGyV2I/AAAAAAAAJeI/14xEefG75gY/s1600/newspruce4.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp;Jacob here is almost 2 years old, but has the waist of a 6 month old (18"). So I made him a 6 month old size (I should have followed my instructions and blended the sizes and used the length of a 2T, but I didn't. I also didn't follow my instructions and left off the second button hole on the suspender straps to be able to shorten the straps so they wouldn't be floppy like this. But I didn't, you see my sewing room was doubling as a guest bedroom at the time so the sewing machine was a little hard to access. So loose and floppy straps it was.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SrWFfXnrWt8/VR4BGrRc-vI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/_pIJqFds4VA/s1600/HH1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SrWFfXnrWt8/VR4BGrRc-vI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/_pIJqFds4VA/s1600/HH1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>I had a REALLY great group of testers on these. I will admit, I may have got a little baby hungry looking at all the cute baby pictures coming in! Just as a heads up these pictures were taking in various stages of the testing process. The pattern gets changed a bit during the testing process. We played around with different widths of suspender straps, shorts length, and I added a little bit more to the back rise.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dATt13uDin4/VR4BKQpBKTI/AAAAAAAAJdM/FnYPWuPLVXc/s1600/baby%2Bspruce%2Bshorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dATt13uDin4/VR4BKQpBKTI/AAAAAAAAJdM/FnYPWuPLVXc/s1600/baby%2Bspruce%2Bshorts.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I love the contrasting thread color of the top-stitching on these.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajxOZK6hB70/VR4BGhvse_I/AAAAAAAAJcE/nii08Vk1wcM/s1600/Jesi%2BLynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajxOZK6hB70/VR4BGhvse_I/AAAAAAAAJcE/nii08Vk1wcM/s1600/Jesi%2BLynn.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>&nbsp;Bow ties on babies are SO CUTE!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RZzZcZRQ_yU/VR4BHXL8N-I/AAAAAAAAJcU/ssIBN3B29Mo/s1600/LHH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RZzZcZRQ_yU/VR4BHXL8N-I/AAAAAAAAJcU/ssIBN3B29Mo/s1600/LHH2.jpg" height="640" width="522" /></a></div>&nbsp;I think that the piping on the suspender straps here is just a fun idea!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rhGq-FWb8I8/VR4BIXqRDjI/AAAAAAAAJck/V1YMfPHVB1U/s1600/Melissa%2BHeinrichs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rhGq-FWb8I8/VR4BIXqRDjI/AAAAAAAAJck/V1YMfPHVB1U/s1600/Melissa%2BHeinrichs.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp;I love how this shows how the shorts can be casual too! (note to self: buy Jacob a grey t-shirt)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrxGCeCeP5U/VR4BJaNl3YI/AAAAAAAAJc4/5nM2U0P3NPw/s1600/TP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrxGCeCeP5U/VR4BJaNl3YI/AAAAAAAAJc4/5nM2U0P3NPw/s1600/TP3.jpg" height="640" width="380" /></a></div>&nbsp;Square buttons! Isn't that so much fun?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxpQmqTVTmA/VR4BJ57QbbI/AAAAAAAAJdA/9LuKL2qK2eg/s1600/TS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxpQmqTVTmA/VR4BJ57QbbI/AAAAAAAAJdA/9LuKL2qK2eg/s1600/TS1.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>And these adorable shorts? UPCYCLED men's pants! Man, I had some CLEVER testers. I think I need to convince this fabulous lady to do a tutorial for us here!<br /><br />Now that you've made it through a bazillion adorable pictures. What is next for Zuzzy? I am working on a pattern extension for FLUFFY BUMS! There are a lot of cloth diaper mama's out there (half of my testers!) So I want them to be able to enjoy these too. As you guys know I don't have much spare time so it's hard to work on pattern drafting, but I hope to get it out soon.http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-new-and-improved-spruce-shorts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-7803290754657175929Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:22:00 +00002015-03-17T11:22:25.565-07:00Project Run and PlayProject Run and Play: March Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TLM8ZdZkidQ/VQhaQaALb_I/AAAAAAAAJZ8/m33ii62doiI/s1600/blogdress10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TLM8ZdZkidQ/VQhaQaALb_I/AAAAAAAAJZ8/m33ii62doiI/s1600/blogdress10.jpg" /></a></div>It's time for the March Project Run and Play Challenge! This month's inspiration pattern is the <a href="http://www.mesewcrazy.com/2015/02/knot-dress-free-pattern.html">Knot Dress by Me Sew Crazy/The Sewing Rabbit</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AFzv99GtFDE/VQhaQo4tBWI/AAAAAAAAJaE/WjrGR_c9eeM/s1600/blogdress11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AFzv99GtFDE/VQhaQo4tBWI/AAAAAAAAJaE/WjrGR_c9eeM/s1600/blogdress11.jpg" /></a></div>For my take on the knot dress, I envisioned a spring dress. The sleeveless knot dress was too summery for little miss's spring wardrobe. So I decided the first thing I would do is add some sleeves. I used the Sally Dress pattern and traced the armscye onto the knot dress bodice and chopped off the knot ties. Then I just used the Sally Dress elbow length sleeves.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QxR-hLv7gs0/VQhaPB2GpOI/AAAAAAAAJZo/qk2irDpXQcM/s1600/blogbow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QxR-hLv7gs0/VQhaPB2GpOI/AAAAAAAAJZo/qk2irDpXQcM/s1600/blogbow2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I kept the back the same, except instead of the knot ties, I just inserted a invisible zipper. Usually I have no trouble with invisible zips, but for some reason this zipper was a pain. I think it was the silk wanna-be fabric. It wasn't my friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGw8Z__jNYI/VQhaPIA6rEI/AAAAAAAAJZs/s9BNZOblkfY/s1600/blogbow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGw8Z__jNYI/VQhaPIA6rEI/AAAAAAAAJZs/s9BNZOblkfY/s1600/blogbow3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used a size 3 bodice and used the size 4 length on the skirt. I used two fabrics for the skirt a pink kona cotton for the underlay and this silk-look poly for the top. I extended the silk about 2 inches longer than the underlay. As I said, the wanna-be silk was a PAIN to work with. ug. It was fraying out of control. This type of fabric requires french seams on the sides and a narrow hem. Which I really like, but I guess I just need more practice (and a finer needle) to get the fabric to not look so tortured. Don't get me wrong, it's gorgeous and has a beautiful drape, I just don't want anyone to examine my seams too closely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xc18QuOmBWQ/VQhaQBz5b8I/AAAAAAAAJZ0/h4Avj-Z74rg/s1600/blogbowdress11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xc18QuOmBWQ/VQhaQBz5b8I/AAAAAAAAJZ0/h4Avj-Z74rg/s1600/blogbowdress11.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this point I was feeling like I had removed the essence of the knot dress, and I needed to bring more back into the design. So I decided to add a knot at the neck. I took pictures of how I added this detail and will have a tutorial up in the next week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xALPt5m3ecg/VQhaOzViQqI/AAAAAAAAJZk/5t9YOKDoFmg/s1600/blogbow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xALPt5m3ecg/VQhaOzViQqI/AAAAAAAAJZk/5t9YOKDoFmg/s1600/blogbow1.jpg" /></a></div>Lastly, I whipped up a cute headband to go with the dress. <a href="http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/03/dallas-fabric-district-shopping.html">Recognize the stretch lace? (and the bird fabric for the dress too)</a>&nbsp;I used <a href="http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2014/12/felt-bow-free-pattern-and-tutorial.html">CINO's felt bow tutorial</a> for the bow.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NdWfsDVENsU/VQhaPw2aITI/AAAAAAAAJa4/MOaSUOyI9lo/s1600/blogbow9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NdWfsDVENsU/VQhaPw2aITI/AAAAAAAAJa4/MOaSUOyI9lo/s1600/blogbow9.jpg" /></a></div>On a completely unrelated tangent, don't you just love the blossoms on my little peach tree? We planted it a year ago, and I've managed to keep it alive!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JXiZRReBjbU/VQhaRHeXsII/AAAAAAAAJaI/Ff2pGpWc1ic/s1600/blogdress4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JXiZRReBjbU/VQhaRHeXsII/AAAAAAAAJaI/Ff2pGpWc1ic/s1600/blogdress4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KIb9fueY1jE/VQhaRgA0QyI/AAAAAAAAJaM/o52VXCgp-Yk/s1600/blogdress5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KIb9fueY1jE/VQhaRgA0QyI/AAAAAAAAJaM/o52VXCgp-Yk/s1600/blogdress5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4Cly6ydm2M/VQhaSGt93FI/AAAAAAAAJaU/f3gJ5AL3V0k/s1600/blogdress6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4Cly6ydm2M/VQhaSGt93FI/AAAAAAAAJaU/f3gJ5AL3V0k/s1600/blogdress6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FdYMnRdEMsU/VQhaSqziDfI/AAAAAAAAJaY/OCoEJ6zbzWU/s1600/blogdress7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FdYMnRdEMsU/VQhaSqziDfI/AAAAAAAAJaY/OCoEJ6zbzWU/s1600/blogdress7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GTJYaghChmI/VQhaTIOEp8I/AAAAAAAAJak/vrDvPbE4EPQ/s1600/blogdress8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GTJYaghChmI/VQhaTIOEp8I/AAAAAAAAJak/vrDvPbE4EPQ/s1600/blogdress8.jpg" /></a></div>The tutorial for how I modified the bodice will be up in a few days so check back next week or follow my<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/craftingzuzzy/zuzzy/"> Zuzzy pinterest board</a>&nbsp;or like the new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftingZuzzy">Zuzzy facebook page</a>&nbsp;to be updated when the tutorial is up.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/03/marchs-challenge-linky-up-party.html">Check out the other PR&amp;P March Challenge entries here</a>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/03/project-run-and-play-march-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-3198237825161356345Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +00002015-03-11T06:27:37.267-07:00PDF sewing patternsZuzzy PatternsThe Chestnut Pants Pattern is here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Today is the big day! The Chestnut Pants are here! I am so proud of this pattern. It's my best yet (you know... out of the three). The Chestnut pants are a great slim fitting, dressy pair of pants for babies and toddlers sizes 0-3 months to 4T. The pants feature a flat-front waistband and elastic back. The pattern includes three pocket options: front pockets, rounded back pockets, and pointed back pockets. I imagine these pants being sewn up for little boy Easter outfits, and special occasion outfits, and even stylish every day pants. You can get your pattern over at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.craftsy.com/user/1918059/pattern-store?_ct=fqjjuhd-lyum-qbb-fqjjuhdi-ro-tuiywduh&amp;_ctp=135036,1918059">Craftsy here&nbsp;</a>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZuzzyPatterns?ref=pr_shop_more">Etsy here</a>&nbsp;for only $6<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4bNTwdJeJU/VPtdwPuvOLI/AAAAAAAAJQo/uGiRFzMVzyw/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4bNTwdJeJU/VPtdwPuvOLI/AAAAAAAAJQo/uGiRFzMVzyw/s1600/blog2.jpg" /></a></div>This pattern release is part of the Aspiring Designers Challenge over at <a href="http://patternrevolution.com/featured-designer/2015/3/7/aspiring-designers-challenge-zuzzy-patterns">Pattern Revolution</a>. You can <a href="http://patternrevolution.com/featured-designer/2015/3/7/aspiring-designers-challenge-zuzzy-patterns">read my post over there</a> AND you will find a giveaway for the pattern while you are over too!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XUjyDa4Y-dQ/VPtdvgIQMfI/AAAAAAAAJQk/7GFz2LMm4_E/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XUjyDa4Y-dQ/VPtdvgIQMfI/AAAAAAAAJQk/7GFz2LMm4_E/s1600/blog3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't want to repeat myself, so over here on Zuzzy I want to share with you the "behind the scenes" story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1yenpvcsQ7g/VP0NkN5DJZI/AAAAAAAAJRo/gIxXCKgZi9E/s1600/babychestnutpants-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1yenpvcsQ7g/VP0NkN5DJZI/AAAAAAAAJRo/gIxXCKgZi9E/s1600/babychestnutpants-05.jpg" height="352" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The concept began with Jacob. Jacob is crazy skinny, and so all of his pants either are several inches too short OR they fall off and end up around his ankles. His wardrobe was seriously lacking, especially his church pants. He needed something nice to wear with sweaters and button-up shirts. Something with a modern, skinny fit. I hate baggy dress pants. On top of it, I would only remember that I needed these pants when it was late Saturday night as I was laying out clothes for the next day. So these pants needed to look awesome but also be a quick sew. No welt pockets, no darts, nothing time consuming. Just something I could whip up the night before church.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The original pants had no pockets at all, and they looked great. However, as I was grading and digitizing the pattern, I drew my technical spec drawing (pictured above) and felt that my drawing needed some side pockets and back pockets. So I added the front side pockets and the rounded back pocket shape. Then when the pattern went into testing, one of my testers wanted a pointed back pocket shape, and I thought it was a great idea (I just love testers!). So, I added the pointed back pocket option, and love it just as much as my rounded pocket option. And that my friends is how the Chestnut Pants came to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5Z3_utDqb4/VP0ft3BZdrI/AAAAAAAAJR4/RVeJzPvyHSs/s1600/collage%2Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5Z3_utDqb4/VP0ft3BZdrI/AAAAAAAAJR4/RVeJzPvyHSs/s1600/collage%2Bone.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a really great group of testers on this pattern. They did such a great job, and even sewed up more than one pair of pants. Huge shout out to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>Kelly of <a href="http://kellyjdesigns.blogspot.com/">Kelly J Designs</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KJDPatterns">KJD Patterns</a></li><li>Tania of <a href="http://kreatita.blogspot.com/">Kreatita</a></li><li>Laura</li><li>Brianna</li><li>Jill of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/aimerlaeandfinn">AimerLae &amp; Finn Patterns</a></li><li>Ashley</li><li>Iri</li><li>Kaycie</li><li>Randi</li><li>Becki</li><li>Karen</li><li>Yie Sha from <a href="https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=497068177046082&amp;ref=bookmark">Minky Monkeys</a></li><li>Kylee</li><li>Nikki</li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-kG4PAhbmM/VP0i_8vmiKI/AAAAAAAAJSE/1s1OVbJ5on8/s1600/Collage%2Btwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-kG4PAhbmM/VP0i_8vmiKI/AAAAAAAAJSE/1s1OVbJ5on8/s1600/Collage%2Btwo.jpg" /></a></div>Come back tomorrow for a round up of fabric ideas for the Chestnut pants.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nRKWmSzX4rE/VPteh3BFw4I/AAAAAAAAJQ8/njv1yOq-JRA/s1600/blog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nRKWmSzX4rE/VPteh3BFw4I/AAAAAAAAJQ8/njv1yOq-JRA/s1600/blog4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Get your Chestnut Pants pattern today at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.craftsy.com/user/1918059/pattern-store?_ct=fqjjuhd-lyum-qbb-fqjjuhdi-ro-tuiywduh&amp;_ctp=135036,1918059">Craftsy here&nbsp;</a>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZuzzyPatterns?ref=pr_shop_more">Etsy here</a>&nbsp;for only $6</div>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-chestnut-pants-pattern-is-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-8893138724333637890Tue, 10 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +00002015-03-10T05:00:02.430-07:00New Look<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru7pBbX3GKk/VP5SFoMtcLI/AAAAAAAAJYM/Cv0W2VSq3ZY/s1600/newblog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru7pBbX3GKk/VP5SFoMtcLI/AAAAAAAAJYM/Cv0W2VSq3ZY/s1600/newblog.png" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>Notice anything different around here? Yep, I cleaned up the blog a bit. Nothing really changed, just better fonts, a cleaner header, and I added another little social media icon up there next to the email and pinterest.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftingZuzzy"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qmiasmi1Nt8/VP5ShdHwoHI/AAAAAAAAJYU/mQTfKXEzDC8/s1600/facebookbanner3-9-15.jpg" height="236" width="640" /></a></div>Do you see the little f? yep! I created a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftingZuzzy">Facebook page for Zuzzy</a>&nbsp;too! Come on over and like the page to get Zuzzy updates on facebook.<br /><br />Why all the sprucing up? I have something big coming tomorrow! (okay, it's not really that big and you probably already know what it is if you read <a href="http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/02/testing-call-and-kcw.html">this post</a>) But I'm excited for it and want Zuzzy to look nice for her big debut.<br /><br />See you tomorrow for the exciting news (hint there will be a pattern giveaway too!)http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/03/new-look.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-718912361207056203Tue, 10 Mar 2015 02:02:00 +00002015-03-09T19:02:26.196-07:00embroideryTwilight Sparkle Shirt<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/02/project-run-and-play-february-challenge.html">A few days ago</a> I mentioned that I received an email from Christine's preschool teacher saying that Christine's shirts are not long enough for the dress code. So I have been on a mission to turn amp up her preschool wardrobe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HibuNimVd0/VP5K2ncd0lI/AAAAAAAAJX0/tFIyF57cGsQ/s1600/ponyshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HibuNimVd0/VP5K2ncd0lI/AAAAAAAAJX0/tFIyF57cGsQ/s1600/ponyshirt.jpg" /></a></div>Luckily, earlier this month I picked up several $3 walmart t-shirts for embroidering. So I embroidered a Twighlight Sparkle Pony on the front of this pink shirt, added a ruffle to the bottom of the shirt, and bam! preschool-appropriate tunic!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uII9VIt5COg/VP5KWSy4SGI/AAAAAAAAJXk/GzbGzSGX2AM/s1600/ponyshirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uII9VIt5COg/VP5KWSy4SGI/AAAAAAAAJXk/GzbGzSGX2AM/s1600/ponyshirt1.jpg" /></a></div>The pony applique design is from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/217023294/twinight-my-petite-horse-applique?ref=shop_home_active_3&amp;ga_search_query=horse">SEWcialBflyDesigns</a> on Etsy. I had a little bit of puckering around the tail and mane because I'm still learning how to stabilize and hoop properly. Other than that I think it stitched out pretty well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25NqJ2gpNm0/VP5KWu8P-DI/AAAAAAAAJXc/0Hfd_DkV3x4/s1600/ponyshirt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25NqJ2gpNm0/VP5KWu8P-DI/AAAAAAAAJXc/0Hfd_DkV3x4/s1600/ponyshirt3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">For the ruffle I cut a strip of knit fabric that was 4" by 1.5 times the width of the t-shirt. Then I serged the short sizes together, basted around the top and gathered it until it was the the same length as the t-shirt hem. Pinned the ruffle to the shirt. Then sewed the ruffle to the shirt with a zig-zag stitch. Finally, I serged around the hem of the ruffle. I may fold it under and top-stitch to keep it from rolling, but this monkey was anxious to wear her shirt so I just let her have it un-finished. Eh, I kind of like it that way anyways.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-xORXW48Go/VP5KWq7ESEI/AAAAAAAAJXg/b1VzDtkhwdk/s1600/ponyshirt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-xORXW48Go/VP5KWq7ESEI/AAAAAAAAJXg/b1VzDtkhwdk/s1600/ponyshirt2.jpg" /></a><br />Now if only it would warm up so she could wear short sleeves to preschool again!http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/03/twilight-sparkle-shirt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-7604884797484918364Tue, 03 Mar 2015 17:59:00 +00002015-03-03T09:59:16.427-08:00fabric shoppingDallas Fabric District Shopping<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week my husband had a little time off of work so we thought it would be fun to drive to Dallas. My in-laws came to watch the kids for us so we could have the whole day together. We were planning on going to the Dallas LDS temple, but because of "severe weather conditions" the temple was closed, so we spent the day checking out the fabric warehouse district of Dallas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ3GTgavnS8/VPXbWrsg2fI/AAAAAAAAJPc/v-l5rqGBSy8/s1600/IMG_0958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ3GTgavnS8/VPXbWrsg2fI/AAAAAAAAJPc/v-l5rqGBSy8/s1600/IMG_0958.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The "severe" weather conditions in Dallas. There was slush on the roads and everyone was panicking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_ElRohy_xs/VPXbLJtxjKI/AAAAAAAAJPM/gYuOJWlePsU/s1600/IMG_0959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_ElRohy_xs/VPXbLJtxjKI/AAAAAAAAJPM/gYuOJWlePsU/s1600/IMG_0959.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>I wish I had thought to take more photos of all the warehouses, but these give you a little idea. I had read online that the warehouses aren't in the nicest part of town, so I was expecting a really sketchy neighborhood, but it wasn't bad at all. Just a little old and rundown, what you would expect from a warehouse. The first store we went to was Golden D'or Fabrics Outlet (10797 Harry Hines Blvd). The about picture is at Golden D'or. It's VERY large. I wasn't interested in most of the fabric though, I wanted apparel cottons, quilting cottons, and knits. There is a large room a quilting cottons and a large row of knits, and a clearance room that I spent the most time looking at. I didn't learn until I got to the cutting counter that fabrics from the clearance room were half off of the marked price (average price was $8 yard). Honestly, I wasn't too excited about the selection, and I was disappointed with the prices at Golden D'or. They weren't overpriced, but they were the same as you would pay at fabric.com and about the same quality too. Just FYI &nbsp;Golden D'or will cut small pieces (as small as 1/8 yard) other shops have a minimum of a yard cut.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5iOiLnaI-Z4/VPI0n4mDugI/AAAAAAAAJNo/kY-6N6cqVnQ/s1600/fabric10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5iOiLnaI-Z4/VPI0n4mDugI/AAAAAAAAJNo/kY-6N6cqVnQ/s1600/fabric10.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>I ended up buying some grey rib knit, blue double knit, a light blue sweater knit, an aqua bamboo knit, purple double knit, and a yellow jersey. I also grabbed some mango acrylic felt that you can see in the later photos. I do wish I had bought more felt, they had a lot of great colors that I can't buy at my local stores.<br />There are about 8 fabric warehouses on the block. We stopped in all but 2 of them (the last 2 we skipped were upholstery ones- I was hungry and although it seems hard to believe, tired of looking at fabric).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CgJs8agGNGo/VPI0oYhyMWI/AAAAAAAAJNw/gtmIqjJ8UsA/s1600/fabric2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CgJs8agGNGo/VPI0oYhyMWI/AAAAAAAAJNw/gtmIqjJ8UsA/s1600/fabric2.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>I wish I had grabbed a business card for all the shops, so I could tell you the name of all the shops we went to. This white eyelet came from a nice shop that had mostly upholstery/ home decor fabrics. They had a large "grand opening" sign on the outside of the building so I'm guessing it's new. They were nice and clean. They were well priced, this eyelet was $4 a yard (60" wide). I was tempted by some well priced faux leather that I regret not buying, I couldn't think of anything I could make from it so I passed, but when I got home I saw an adorable tote made from faux leather on pinterest that would have been a perfect project. Oh well.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSFZk1TslDY/VPI0pYPF-GI/AAAAAAAAJOE/l-ZUiyHnQPk/s1600/fabric4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSFZk1TslDY/VPI0pYPF-GI/AAAAAAAAJOE/l-ZUiyHnQPk/s1600/fabric4.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My second favorite shop was Super Textiles (2667 Perth). Look for the sign that says "Fabric, Buttons, Zippers" with a bunch of buttons on it. &nbsp;They had a small amount of uninteresting fabric, and 3 small rooms of buttons. Nothing is labeled very well. I had to ask the owner how much the buttons cost. 50 cents for the specialty ones (the wood ones), 25 cents for the large ones, 10 cents for the small ones. There was a box of ziplock baggies that you help yourself to and fill with all the buttons you want. Then when they rang me up, they just looked at the pile and said this looks like $10. I don't know which ones counted as small and which ones counted as large buttons, but I feel like I got a good amount of buttons for 10 bucks.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was another shop next to the button shop called something like C&amp;C fabrics that had nice quilting fabrics, and bolts of fabric that were only $1 a yard but you had to buy the entire bolt. I was worried about just filling my sewing room with fabric I wouldn't used, but of course when I got home I regretted not being a little more adventurous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rHHLe7TYpuQ/VPI0pqvxb_I/AAAAAAAAJOI/xYbTAcNhL4U/s1600/fabric6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rHHLe7TYpuQ/VPI0pqvxb_I/AAAAAAAAJOI/xYbTAcNhL4U/s1600/fabric6.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My very favorite shop was Warehouse Fabrics (2675 Perth St) I bought the majority of my fabric from here. It's not as large as Golden D'or but had a lot more of the fabrics I was interested in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVWuY6Zakt4/VPXbSFtfbsI/AAAAAAAAJPU/ZU0AzhyYyvY/s1600/IMG_0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVWuY6Zakt4/VPXbSFtfbsI/AAAAAAAAJPU/ZU0AzhyYyvY/s1600/IMG_0961.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the back of the warehouse is a small section of designer cotton prints (my favorite!) for $3.50 a yard. I was really excited to find some Heather Ross, Aneela Hoey, Lotta Jansdotter, Joel Dewberry, and some other Cloud 9 fabric. (Isn't my husband a good sport? He's the best!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jjvco0HN2W4/VPI0ozpHDhI/AAAAAAAAJN8/hTMjkT2yzHs/s1600/fabric3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jjvco0HN2W4/VPI0ozpHDhI/AAAAAAAAJN8/hTMjkT2yzHs/s1600/fabric3.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>One thing to note, is that they have a one yard minimum cut on their fabrics. I may not have grabbed every colorway of the Far Far Away snails if I had known I couldn't get just half a yard of it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiEOtS7DJJ4/VPI0pbtLkrI/AAAAAAAAJOQ/UHrt4dEs4II/s1600/fabric5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiEOtS7DJJ4/VPI0pbtLkrI/AAAAAAAAJOQ/UHrt4dEs4II/s1600/fabric5.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>I also picked up some mint stretch lace fabric ($5 a yard I think) stretchy lace (.99 cents a yard), some pink serger thread, and an entire cone of 1/2" elastic.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhfrHo6kyRQ/VPI0qJ6vATI/AAAAAAAAJOo/k7-VyWcqPbw/s1600/fabric7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhfrHo6kyRQ/VPI0qJ6vATI/AAAAAAAAJOo/k7-VyWcqPbw/s1600/fabric7.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>They had an entire table of this stretch lace, I grabbed some to make some headbands for a local backyard boutique I'm participating in a couple weeks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h8nQImiSpbU/VPI0qQHRUrI/AAAAAAAAJOY/WRDC3UpOIJk/s1600/fabric8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h8nQImiSpbU/VPI0qQHRUrI/AAAAAAAAJOY/WRDC3UpOIJk/s1600/fabric8.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>And this serger thread is delicious! It is high quality and was $2 a cone.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmKXqfoc0Lg/VPI0n33AxUI/AAAAAAAAJNs/RHJz6F1NK9Y/s1600/fabric11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmKXqfoc0Lg/VPI0n33AxUI/AAAAAAAAJNs/RHJz6F1NK9Y/s1600/fabric11.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I didn't realize until I got home that the regular Maxi lock thread I usually buy only has 3,000 yards, and these cones have 6,000 yards so they were a killer deal. I wish I had bought all the colors they offered.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HuvJoHMdYOw/VPI0qwMr8DI/AAAAAAAAJOg/Uqbd4RgekLI/s1600/fabric9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HuvJoHMdYOw/VPI0qwMr8DI/AAAAAAAAJOg/Uqbd4RgekLI/s1600/fabric9.jpg" height="640" width="416" /></a></div>Last fall I bought an entire spool of 1/4" elastic off ebay and it was the best decision ever. I loooooooove having an endless supply of elastic, and $12 is a great deal. If they had 3/4" wide and 1" wide I would have bought those too. I really liked that the elastic and thread was in plastic so it was nice and clean.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz917LT5W10/VPI0nw69LxI/AAAAAAAAJNk/VY6qz0claac/s1600/fabric1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz917LT5W10/VPI0nw69LxI/AAAAAAAAJNk/VY6qz0claac/s1600/fabric1.jpg" height="392" width="640" /></a></div>Here's my entire pile I brought home with me. Mmmmmm yummy! If you are going to the Warehouse district I would recommend going to the smaller stores first, saving Golden D'or for last. I don't know if I would make the two hour drive just for the fabric, but if I'm ever near Dallas again I will definitely stop.http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/03/dallas-fabric-district-shopping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-3482743010762756562Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:21:00 +00002015-02-21T07:44:39.372-08:00Project Run and PlayProject Run and Play: February Challenge<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am loving the new set up for Project Run and Play this year. I actually have time to complete the challenge! This month's challenge is the <a href="http://www.livingwithpunks.com/2013/08/mademoiselle-muscle-tee-free-pattern/">Mademoisell Muscle Tee </a>from Living with Punks.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livingwithpunks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_037011_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.livingwithpunks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/DSC_037011_thumb.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Mademoisell Muscle Tee is a pretty blank slate. I wanted to change it up a bit but still keep the essence of the original.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I needed this shirt to be preschool appropriate. Christine's preschool teacher is pretty strict on her dress code. In fact, I just got an email informing me that the shirt Christine wore one Tuesday was not long enough! So sleeves and long length were essentials for this look.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W6GRkHvBW_k/VOiR-3HSuzI/AAAAAAAAJMk/arSE_hJNLUc/s1600/lacetunics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W6GRkHvBW_k/VOiR-3HSuzI/AAAAAAAAJMk/arSE_hJNLUc/s1600/lacetunics.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Second, I've been inspired by the lace trend everywhere. (Pictures from <a href="http://www.reddressboutique.com/show-me-the-way-tunic.html">Red Dress Boutique</a>. Yep discovered from Shark Tank. I love Shark Tank!) I thought it would be a great way to add some length.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/d3/40/ca/d340ca76bfb795b27b3d9dce78793268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/d3/40/ca/d340ca76bfb795b27b3d9dce78793268.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Third, this photo. Ohmygosh adorbs! Jacob needs this outfit and it's gonna happen! But that collar? yes please. What a fun way to dress up the look. I happened to stumble across this <a href="https://needleandted.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/can-my-crafty-creation-win-the-hillarys-blinds-country-crafts-competition/">free collar pattern&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;over at <a href="http://www.francessuzanne.com/2015/02/flip-pattern-spring-2015-february-free.html">February's Flip this Pattern Linky Party</a>&nbsp;and thought it would be perfect, and saved me a ton of time having to draft a collar!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0yNk6uk7YE/VOiWbZ7ltMI/AAAAAAAAJMw/ESxRcAOXTMY/s1600/notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i0yNk6uk7YE/VOiWbZ7ltMI/AAAAAAAAJMw/ESxRcAOXTMY/s1600/notebook.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For fabrics I went with a striped oatmeal/gray knit from Girl Charlee I had in my stash. I thought the striped fabric was a nice reference to the original&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mademoisell Muscle Tee. The purple metalic dots is from Joann's from the the quilter's cotton wall last Fall. The lace I picked up from Hobby Lobby. (if you look closely at my sketchbook you can glimpse some of my other ideas I had for this project)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it all comes together to make the Mademoisell lace tunic.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkhxlFlUV-4/VOiOPuCb-7I/AAAAAAAAJME/ZKL5Lppvngo/s1600/shirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkhxlFlUV-4/VOiOPuCb-7I/AAAAAAAAJME/ZKL5Lppvngo/s1600/shirt1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;Gorgeous right? I'm in love.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHbaMHXWnUw/VOihTXfcNKI/AAAAAAAAJNA/ieTTPfV2g1w/s1600/shirt5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fHbaMHXWnUw/VOihTXfcNKI/AAAAAAAAJNA/ieTTPfV2g1w/s1600/shirt5.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Basically, I graded the originally tee down to a 2T width, kept the length, redrew the armscye and added three-quarter length sleeves, and sewed the lace to the hem.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I paired the top with some navy leggings (knit from Purple Seamstress) and a headband I made to match her Christmas dress. (note to self: add another flower, those two are looking a little like monster horns)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0_HlfthuAY/VOiOPYMMhiI/AAAAAAAAJMA/CUSM6Oi47pk/s1600/shirt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0_HlfthuAY/VOiOPYMMhiI/AAAAAAAAJMA/CUSM6Oi47pk/s1600/shirt3.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;I love this collar. It's so much fun. I slashed and spread the pattern to add a little gather around the tie. I took photos of how I changed the pattern and added the ties so a tutorial will be coming next week!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xa3uAIh1kS4/VOiOQXaUwrI/AAAAAAAAJMU/HdnYYHJs84g/s1600/shirt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xa3uAIh1kS4/VOiOQXaUwrI/AAAAAAAAJMU/HdnYYHJs84g/s1600/shirt4.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Check out more at <a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/02/february-link-up-tee-shirt-challenge.html">Project Run and Play&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Linking up to the <a href="http://www.francessuzanne.com/2015/02/february-free-linky-party.html">Flip this Pattern's February Free for All</a></span></div>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/02/project-run-and-play-february-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-5008755075419453263Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:59:00 +00002015-02-11T06:59:27.035-08:00for babyGift Ideasmachine embroideryBaby GiftKCW is over and I didn't finish my list. Big surprise right? It was too long and I lost my motivation. At least I did finish some things in my WIP pile, and I'll keep working on it. I still have a couple photos to post of the jump rope dress. But today I have a couple pictures of a baby gift I just made. You know me, I love to make baby gifts!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gh4S3KOj6Mo/VNtpWB0uj3I/AAAAAAAAJLI/IzYUxuqiU9k/s1600/onesiegift1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gh4S3KOj6Mo/VNtpWB0uj3I/AAAAAAAAJLI/IzYUxuqiU9k/s1600/onesiegift1.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp;My cousin and his wife just had a baby in January. They had a hard time getting pregnant so I was ecstatic when they announced their good news. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2_V0L90oug/VNtpWGBgsRI/AAAAAAAAJLQ/JEOtX4mwJZ8/s1600/onesiegift2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2_V0L90oug/VNtpWGBgsRI/AAAAAAAAJLQ/JEOtX4mwJZ8/s1600/onesiegift2.jpg" /></a>I appliqued this long sleeve onesie on my new embroidery machine (that I still need to introduce you to). The nesting doll design is from <a href="http://www.justpeachyapplique.com/Nesting-Doll-6-Applique-Design_p_675.html">Just Peachy Applique</a>&nbsp;(I stocked up when they had their 90% off sale). Let me tell you, working on baby onesies is HARD! and this design has a LOT of thread changes. I'll be honest, this project was a bit outside of my skill level. But I think it turned out pretty good.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxzhj8YCbwA/VNtpWowvU4I/AAAAAAAAJLY/ieoO5BUSmGE/s1600/onesiegift4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxzhj8YCbwA/VNtpWowvU4I/AAAAAAAAJLY/ieoO5BUSmGE/s1600/onesiegift4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They live in Idaho so the present needed to be extra warm so I made a pair of my fuzzy baby boots that I sell in my Etsy shop. Then I crocheted <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/79465477/crochet-pattern-crochet-hat-pattern?ref=shop_home_active_22">my favorite hat pattern</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GfIM1rOHyDQ/VNtpWMa3nEI/AAAAAAAAJLM/jzocCKwGnxk/s1600/onesiegift3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GfIM1rOHyDQ/VNtpWMa3nEI/AAAAAAAAJLM/jzocCKwGnxk/s1600/onesiegift3.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp;Hopefully this will keep her nice and cozy!http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/02/baby-gift.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-8286605238985124162Fri, 06 Feb 2015 03:20:00 +00002015-02-05T19:20:08.511-08:00KCWTesting Call and KCW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before my KCW update I have big news! I'm ready to test the BabyChestnut Pants!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7wNrej-1tk/VNQlThplgWI/AAAAAAAAJJ4/sCjz-E0UYmg/s1600/babychestnutpants-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7wNrej-1tk/VNQlThplgWI/AAAAAAAAJJ4/sCjz-E0UYmg/s1600/babychestnutpants-05.jpg" height="351" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The chestnut pants are a slim dressy slack with flat-front waist and elastic back. Pockets are optional. I am looking for sizes 0-3 months to 4T. Testing will begin tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 2/6/15) and end Sunday at midnight. Pants require 2/3 yard for sizes 0-3m to 18-24m and 1 yard for sizes 2t-4T. Suggested fabrics are medium weight wovens such as corduroy, linen, twill, denim, suiting, and wool blends. Here is the link to apply:&nbsp;</span><a href="http://goo.gl/forms/PMVzhlner9" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/forms/PMVzhlner9</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They take about 2-3 hours to sew (I can whip up a pair in a hour, but I can make these in my sleep now because I've made so many). If you are invited to test you will be sent an invite to the zuzzy patterns testing facebook group, and you get to hang out with me and a bunch of other awesome sewing ladies on facebook all weekend :) it's fun I promise!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Now for KCW fun<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o05LhN6JeJE/VNQstcrsV1I/AAAAAAAAJKI/zyvahZARb78/s1600/captamerica1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o05LhN6JeJE/VNQstcrsV1I/AAAAAAAAJKI/zyvahZARb78/s1600/captamerica1.jpg" /></a></div>Captain America raglan shirt for Jacob- CHECK! It's nearly impossible to get photos of this kid. So the photo quality is a little less than ideal. But I'll take what I can get!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2NfyXk4XfE4/VNQsth25QtI/AAAAAAAAJKM/mG4emqX7ozM/s1600/captamerica3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2NfyXk4XfE4/VNQsth25QtI/AAAAAAAAJKM/mG4emqX7ozM/s1600/captamerica3.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div>The red fabric is from <a href="http://purpleseamstressfabric.com/">Purple Seamstress</a>, The super heroes fabric is from a custom knit fabric facebook group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/273142789548714/">Kiddie Prints</a>&nbsp;it's dreamy knit! I will definitely be writing more about them in an upcoming post, because they just had a fabric design contest that I entered and WON (2nd place) and now they are going to be printing my fabric! So excited! The captain america embroidery design is from <a href="http://www.justpeachyapplique.com/">Just Peachy Applique</a>. Guys! I bought myself an embroidery machine last November! It's freaking amazing and I'll share more in another post, because this is supposed to be about the SHIRT! (Since we are off topic anyways, do you see my new curtains I made?! They make me so HAPPY! Also, I am soooo behind with blogging!)<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BWT478ameU/VNQxoN8io8I/AAAAAAAAJKk/m-LwkRdK09o/s1600/redshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BWT478ameU/VNQxoN8io8I/AAAAAAAAJKk/m-LwkRdK09o/s1600/redshirt.jpg" /></a>This season of KCW has an upcycle theme. This shirt was supposed to be my upcycled entry. I had this red Dixie State College shirt I was going to use. I cut the pattern piece out of the back, but I ruined it when embroidering on the Capt. America guy. I didn't stabilize properly and it shifted, and looked terrible. So no upcycling for me. I'm not too sad about it because the red cotton lycra from purple seamstress is sooooo soft.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mp_aP3Kpzx0/VNQstpZ1E_I/AAAAAAAAJKU/tIeaM5T-j6s/s1600/captamerica2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mp_aP3Kpzx0/VNQstpZ1E_I/AAAAAAAAJKU/tIeaM5T-j6s/s1600/captamerica2.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div><br />Christine loves to point out the Spiderman on the sleeve "look mommy! It's spiderman right here!" because she got a spiderman sticker from the doctor's office once.<br /><br />More KCW pictures tomorrow!http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/02/testing-call-and-kcw.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-7905244074673140991Wed, 04 Feb 2015 02:41:00 +00002015-02-03T18:41:10.506-08:00KCWsewingKCW: Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uXeGvD6agQ/VNGBB0TzFbI/AAAAAAAAJJc/cbGIu2QVmX8/s1600/blueshirtsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uXeGvD6agQ/VNGBB0TzFbI/AAAAAAAAJJc/cbGIu2QVmX8/s1600/blueshirtsmall.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blue raglan shirt, check! Brown corduroy pants, check!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_zRqBzaOmc/VNGBBws04NI/AAAAAAAAJJg/KShwpXcH1T8/s1600/blueshirt2small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_zRqBzaOmc/VNGBBws04NI/AAAAAAAAJJg/KShwpXcH1T8/s1600/blueshirt2small.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>KCW sewing went well yesterday, today not so much. I have to admit I am just not motivated to finish my pile! Part of me is like, "Eh, I did enough" the other part of me is like "nooooo the LIST! you made a list! you must cross everything off the list!" We'll see which side of my brain wins.<br /><br />Details on the clothes: Raglan pattern is from Ottobre, Ottobre is in metric measurements and I think I chose the wrong size. This is a bit big, but at least it will fit him for a while. The grey/navy striped knit fabric is a cotton/poly/rayon blend from <a href="http://www.girlcharlee.com/navy-blue-heather-gray-half-inch-stripe-cotton-jersey-blend-knit-fabric-p-9073.html">Girl Charlie</a>&nbsp;(I just looked it up to link it, and noticed it's on sale for $3.90/yd right now). It's amazingly soft and I love it. The navy knit fabric for the sleeves is a cotton lycra knit from fabric.com<br /><br />The pants are my Chestnut pants pattern (someday I will finish this pattern. someday.) They are made from a brown corduroy from fabric.com I was NOT happy when this fabric came in the mail. It's so thin, and not the thick corduroy I was hoping for. That's the biggest problem with online fabric shopping, you can't touch the fabric before you buy it. But I live in the middle of nowhere Texas so I really have no other choice.<br /><br />I finished the Captain America shirt, and the Jump Rope Dress. So I will still have some photos to share tomorrow even if I don't keep sewing. Please motivate me in the comments section to help me finish the pjs at least, They just need to be hemmed and neckbands sewn in.http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/02/kcw-day-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-7718923929767812107Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:41:00 +00002015-02-02T11:41:30.367-08:00KCWKCW: Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0X_NDMhqdE/VM_Caw1TppI/AAAAAAAAJI8/FH3ikqNELZQ/s1600/kcwpile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0X_NDMhqdE/VM_Caw1TppI/AAAAAAAAJI8/FH3ikqNELZQ/s1600/kcwpile.jpg" /></a></div>It's Kids Clothes Week! Hooray! Time to sew sew sew!<br /><br />This KCW I decided I'm going to tackle all my WIPs (work in progress) Projects that for some reason or other I tossed to the side and haven't wanted to finished. I thought the KCW motivation would help me get these project out of my craft room closet. Some of the projects were just cut out, or maybe have a couple seams sewn, or sewn almost all the way and just need to be hemmed. And this week I am going to finished them ALL! (ummm maybe)<br /><br />So what am I going to be sewing up?<br /><br />1. Captain America raglan tee for Jacob. Using the grey super hero fabric pictured above for the sleeves and back with red knit for the front with embroidered captain america head. If that sounds confusing, just wait until tomorrow when I post the finished picture, then you'll understand what I am talking about.<br /><br />2. Grey and Blue striped raglan tee for Jacob. This one was sewn up to test the sizing of my raglan pattern before I cut into my expensive super hero fabric. I sewed it up but never bothered to hem it, or sew on the neck binding. Time to pull out that double needle and hem the sleeves! This should be a quick one to finish!<br /><br />3 and 4. Striped PJs for both kids (in the neon yellow and pink striped fabric). For Christmas I sewed the kids some knit pj's but I was using a new pattern and wanted to be sure they would fit before I cut into my out of my gorgeous out of print (irreplaceable) fabric. I sewed the bottoms up and finished them, then I sewed the top together with one sleeve just to make sure the length was right. Then I set aside the half sewn test pjs to sew the real Christmas pjs and haven't bothered to go back and finished the tops.<br /><br />5 and 6. Frozen fleece jackets for both kids. I bought the Anna and Elsa fleece as a remnant from the fabric store. Then I was like, Jacob needs an Olaf one so they can be matching! I am totally into coordinating the kids right now. It's so cute. Nothing has been sewn on these, just cut out.<br /><br />7. Feather print celetial tee for Christine. Okay, I admit this one was cut out for KCW Fall, but then life got a little busy and I just never finished it. All it needs is a neck band. Seriously.<br /><br />8. Navy blue leggings to match the feather shirt. Cut out, just needs to be sewn. Should be able to knock this one out pretty quick I hope.<br /><br />9. Oliver+S Jumprope Dress in a princess/dragon print. I cut this one out last April, and I'm not sure why I forgot about it. Maybe I was intimidated by the placket? But now I'm afraid Christine is too small for a size 2. Groan. I'm going to finish it though, and then probably send it to my niece. (Ashley I hope you like it)<br /><br />10. Oliver+S Apple Picking Dress. I'm starting to think that I have a problem. Fabric was purchased, pattern selected, pieces cut out, started sewing a few seams, got to the part where I had to sew button holes and then it's sat there on my ironing board for a few weeks.<br /><br />11. Pants for Jacob. I've been working really hard on turning the Spruce Shorts into pants. I've been working hard to perfect the fit, I've sewn up a few versions already and I'm fine tuning the diaper ease on the baby sizes right now. I need to sew up one more pair for Jacob to make sure it's good then I am ready to send it to testers!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy9jUq0BHHA/VM_LyMfJQLI/AAAAAAAAJJM/jS0cqqLdufY/s1600/Chestnutpants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy9jUq0BHHA/VM_LyMfJQLI/AAAAAAAAJJM/jS0cqqLdufY/s1600/Chestnutpants.jpg" /></a></div>That is QUITE the ambitious list! Do you think I can sew it all? Come back tomorrow for an updatehttp://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/02/kcw-day-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-8194689404391170515Sat, 31 Jan 2015 16:57:00 +00002015-01-31T08:57:13.058-08:00Project Run and PlaysewingtutorialThe slouchy cardigan tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xH-e42rO_BI/VMzt-qzexdI/AAAAAAAAJIY/Q-oZWbvP_KU/s1600/slouchycardigantutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xH-e42rO_BI/VMzt-qzexdI/AAAAAAAAJIY/Q-oZWbvP_KU/s1600/slouchycardigantutorial.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week I shared <a href="http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/01/prp-january-challenge.html">my project run and play entry</a>, and I promised a tutorial for how to make the cardigan. So here it is! My entry actually made the top 10 list for voting over at PR&amp;P. My look didn't get very many votes, but I was still really excited about making the top 10. Thank you if you voted for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So let's get started! To make this you are going to need a basic knit shirt bodice front, back, and sleeve. I used the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/125427641/bimaa-sweater-pdf-sewing-pattern-hoodie">Bimaa pattern</a>, but it would work with similar patterns like the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2012/02/flashback-skinny-tee-sewing-pattern-is-here/">flash back skinny</a>, or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.titchythreads.com/patterns/rowan-tee">Rowan</a>&nbsp;too. You could even just trace a long sleeve knit shirt that fits your child. YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO SIZE UP! I normally use a 3T for Christine right now, so I cut a size 4. You want the cardigan to be slightly larger so you can layer it on top of shirts. If you don't size up, the arms especially might be a little too snug.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8TlDiGJa_g/VMzt0fvJfCI/AAAAAAAAJFg/GgwVQsQhupM/s1600/Cardigan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8TlDiGJa_g/VMzt0fvJfCI/AAAAAAAAJFg/GgwVQsQhupM/s1600/Cardigan1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>1. Lay your front and back bodices together at their side. Trace along the back pattern piece, and the armscye and shoulder seam of the front bodice.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hU8MVs__rls/VMzt20alBQI/AAAAAAAAJGg/L8QR8TwohVM/s1600/cardigan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hU8MVs__rls/VMzt20alBQI/AAAAAAAAJGg/L8QR8TwohVM/s1600/cardigan2.jpg" /></a></div>2. Now pivot the front bodice at the shoulder and swing the bottom away from the back bodice about 3". Trace the neck, side, and bottom of the front pattern piece. (I also marked the right side with a dashed line for your reference.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9wscWJimWM/VMzt4RajDUI/AAAAAAAAJHY/-JZoYIb46Zc/s1600/cardigan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9wscWJimWM/VMzt4RajDUI/AAAAAAAAJHY/-JZoYIb46Zc/s1600/cardigan4.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div>3. Draw a line connecting the front to the back along bottom with a nice smooth curve along the hem. I dropped the back 1/2" to add a slight curve to the cardigan back.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bjbOHma9jKA/VMzt4jTQW6I/AAAAAAAAJHU/uBm-sbPldZ4/s1600/cardigan5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bjbOHma9jKA/VMzt4jTQW6I/AAAAAAAAJHU/uBm-sbPldZ4/s1600/cardigan5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's with the ruler moved out of the way. This is what the smoothed out hem should look like.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWrdjHW9I7w/VMzt4XEaEFI/AAAAAAAAJHc/0VOtQ9pSTbY/s1600/cardigan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWrdjHW9I7w/VMzt4XEaEFI/AAAAAAAAJHc/0VOtQ9pSTbY/s1600/cardigan3.jpg" /></a></div>4. Add an additional 1/2 inch to the front side. This will be your front hem.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4S-Pg-6IuQ/VMzt5CdWqUI/AAAAAAAAJHo/B-O-vmRuf7U/s1600/cardigan6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4S-Pg-6IuQ/VMzt5CdWqUI/AAAAAAAAJHo/B-O-vmRuf7U/s1600/cardigan6.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div>Again, with the ruler moved so you can see what I'm talking about ;)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iU8pI0sCM8E/VMzt5WsTuRI/AAAAAAAAJH4/_tBpQqNDYRA/s1600/cardigan8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iU8pI0sCM8E/VMzt5WsTuRI/AAAAAAAAJH4/_tBpQqNDYRA/s1600/cardigan8.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div>5. Now you need to true your seam allowance by flipping your front over across your original line and trace the curve of the neck.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fghi9BAGCEI/VMzt5qq8YhI/AAAAAAAAJH0/LlFy6hohao8/s1600/cardigan9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fghi9BAGCEI/VMzt5qq8YhI/AAAAAAAAJH0/LlFy6hohao8/s1600/cardigan9.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IdsaMftklM/VMzt5crmsxI/AAAAAAAAJHs/QC5nAGa193Y/s1600/cardigan7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IdsaMftklM/VMzt5crmsxI/AAAAAAAAJHs/QC5nAGa193Y/s1600/cardigan7.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div>6. Add your pattern info: fold line arrows on the middle of the back, "cut one on fold" directions, "stretch goes horizontally" reminder. Your pattern is now ready!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zj9mQQxE8no/VMzt0BNSATI/AAAAAAAAJFY/807nNLlCIyM/s1600/cardigan10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zj9mQQxE8no/VMzt0BNSATI/AAAAAAAAJFY/807nNLlCIyM/s1600/cardigan10.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div>7. Cut your pattern pieces from a nice stretchy knit fabric. You will cut 1 of your cardigan pieces on the fold of the fabric, cut 2 sleeves, and you will cut a neck binding as well- instructions for that on step #14<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghT19sROu-o/VMzt0Tzvk1I/AAAAAAAAJFc/JXFtpNc2Bsw/s1600/cardigan11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghT19sROu-o/VMzt0Tzvk1I/AAAAAAAAJFc/JXFtpNc2Bsw/s1600/cardigan11.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div>8. Time to sew!!!&nbsp;&nbsp;(I used a serger, but a regular sewing machine will work too) Fold the sides of the cardigan in (right sides together) and line up the shoulders. Sew shoulders together. Fold sleeves in half and sew sides of the sleeves.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CE_tU7fUV-U/VMzt1_spyHI/AAAAAAAAJGE/d-EYO36dnFA/s1600/cardigan16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CE_tU7fUV-U/VMzt1_spyHI/AAAAAAAAJGE/d-EYO36dnFA/s1600/cardigan16.jpg" /></a></div>9. Hem the sleeves by folding up the sleeves and sewing across with a double needle on your sewing machine (<a href="http://www.coletterie.com/books/tutorial-sewing-hems-on-knits-with-a-twin-needle">here's a useful tutorial on that from coletterie</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2014/02/introducing-stretch-thread-my-new-bff/">here from Mady by Rae</a>) I have the best double needle results when I use <a href="http://www.wawak.com/products/product.cfm/pid/6091/Wooly-Nylon-Serging-Thread-White/">wooly nylon </a>in the bobbin and regular thread in the top thread of my sewing machine, with a longer stitch length (3) and decrease the bobbin tension.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHnm7cwSEMc/VMzt08F7t8I/AAAAAAAAJFo/qW3a1E01dow/s1600/cardigan12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHnm7cwSEMc/VMzt08F7t8I/AAAAAAAAJFo/qW3a1E01dow/s1600/cardigan12.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10. Turn sleeve right side out and slide the sleeve into the arm hold. Sew in place. (<a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/2008/05/learn-how-to-attach-a-set-in-sleeve/">here's a tutorial on setting in sleeves</a>- except when sewing on knits you don't have to baste and gather the fabric, you can just stretch the fabric a little to get it to fit)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ7IqNKQ5Pk/VMzt1HChwYI/AAAAAAAAJGA/MZ04CR8tWaA/s1600/cardigan13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ7IqNKQ5Pk/VMzt1HChwYI/AAAAAAAAJGA/MZ04CR8tWaA/s1600/cardigan13.jpg" /></a></div>11. Repeat to the other sleeve.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr8Pb2O4bTw/VMzt1WZ4W-I/AAAAAAAAJF4/lyhrYRyZG10/s1600/cardigan15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr8Pb2O4bTw/VMzt1WZ4W-I/AAAAAAAAJF4/lyhrYRyZG10/s1600/cardigan15.jpg" /></a></div>12. Fold the edge of the front side over 1/2". Sew in place. Sometimes the fabric will stretch unevenly as you are sewing so use a couple pins to keep the fabric from pulling. (What happens is the feed dogs stretch the fabric underneath- a walking foot would prevent this problem- but I gotta tell you I hate putting that monster on my machine. It takes so long, and to be honest it scares me a little!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDr3bprlE7Y/VMzt1R0hlfI/AAAAAAAAJFw/gPw-epzENc0/s1600/cardigan14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDr3bprlE7Y/VMzt1R0hlfI/AAAAAAAAJFw/gPw-epzENc0/s1600/cardigan14.jpg" /></a></div>13. Fold the bottom hem up 1/2" and hem.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nE2WccrNrpk/VMzt2Z3N-fI/AAAAAAAAJGQ/rbGnaerKtn4/s1600/cardigan18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nE2WccrNrpk/VMzt2Z3N-fI/AAAAAAAAJGQ/rbGnaerKtn4/s1600/cardigan18.jpg" /></a></div>14. Time for the neck binding. Start by laying out the cardigan neck hole nice and flat. Measure the distance from end to end (without stretching). Add 1" to that measurement for seam allowance.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ij_EmEDC18w/VMzt3jbtYcI/AAAAAAAAJG4/PKCgY_TaBRM/s1600/cardigan22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ij_EmEDC18w/VMzt3jbtYcI/AAAAAAAAJG4/PKCgY_TaBRM/s1600/cardigan22.jpg" /></a></div>15. Cut a long rectangle 1.5" x length you got in step 14. My neck measured 20.5" plus 1" for seams, so I cut a 21.5" long rectangle. &nbsp;(The 1.5" width will make a 1/2" neck binding with 1/4" seam allowance. I use a 1/4" seam allowance because I am using a serger. If you are sewing on a sewing machine and want to use a 1/2" seam allowance cut your rectangle 2" wide instead. Just remember what seam allowance you accounted for when you get to step #18) &nbsp;*you may want to write these measurements on your cardigan pattern piece for future reference.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OWfwkxE3FoQ/VMzt3Lax8dI/AAAAAAAAJG0/9-e9hniRkk8/s1600/cardigan21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OWfwkxE3FoQ/VMzt3Lax8dI/AAAAAAAAJG0/9-e9hniRkk8/s1600/cardigan21.jpg" /></a></div>16. Fold the neck binding in half (right sides together) and sew ends closed with 1/2" seam allowance.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1nFraIRI84/VMzt22EQwhI/AAAAAAAAJGk/J6p1z-zbdFg/s1600/cardigan20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1nFraIRI84/VMzt22EQwhI/AAAAAAAAJGk/J6p1z-zbdFg/s1600/cardigan20.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">17. Trim extra fabric and turn right side out. Use something soft and blunt to poke the corner out (I use a large plastic crochet hook- just don't use scissors or a really sharp pencil, those things can poke a hole through your fabric! that would be bad!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkXKzGZbXZk/VMzt2j7i2-I/AAAAAAAAJGY/TOWsEoddYOQ/s1600/cardigan19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IkXKzGZbXZk/VMzt2j7i2-I/AAAAAAAAJGY/TOWsEoddYOQ/s1600/cardigan19.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div>18. Lay the neck binding across the neck. Pin in place. Sew with 1/4" seam allowance.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDTOyHkRis8/VMzt3umku5I/AAAAAAAAJG8/wGfyHTZ9YQ8/s1600/cardigan23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDTOyHkRis8/VMzt3umku5I/AAAAAAAAJG8/wGfyHTZ9YQ8/s1600/cardigan23.jpg" /></a></div>19. Fold the neck binding up and top-stitch across. This will help the binding lay flat and smooth.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vz0oEYJvk0w/VMzt2BSmb1I/AAAAAAAAJGI/x1_uINldz0k/s1600/cardigan17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vz0oEYJvk0w/VMzt2BSmb1I/AAAAAAAAJGI/x1_uINldz0k/s1600/cardigan17.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div>WooHoo! you just finished your cardigan!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVGi689t6K4/VM0HRy7nu0I/AAAAAAAAJIo/H3BmLSRonhQ/s1600/cardigan25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVGi689t6K4/VM0HRy7nu0I/AAAAAAAAJIo/H3BmLSRonhQ/s1600/cardigan25.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div>If you make any I'd love to see your cardigans! Tag your pictures with #zuzzypatterns in instagram :)<br /><br />Happy Weekend!http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-slouchy-cardigan-tutorial.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-1995505668578439849Wed, 21 Jan 2015 13:30:00 +00002015-01-21T05:30:15.830-08:00PDF sewing patternsZuzzy PatternsMore Princess Gloves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I wanted to share some links where you can find more Plum Princess Gloves in action!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5174831ee4b084de2911741b/t/54bdc5aae4b0ff956999290d/1421723053105/?format=750w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5174831ee4b084de2911741b/t/54bdc5aae4b0ff956999290d/1421723053105/?format=750w" /></a></div>First these gorgeous long length navy blue gloves sewn up by Pattern Revolution pattern reviewer Becca Duval Photography. The post is a review of the&nbsp;Annabell Dress by Violette Field Threads&nbsp;(isn't it to die for? I may have to buy this pattern when it comes out). <a href="http://patternrevolution.com/pattern-reviews/2015/1/19/annabelle-by-violette-field-threads">Read the post and see all of the gorgeous photos here.</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5174831ee4b084de2911741b/t/54b96681e4b05e2e7fc67d88/1421436545689/Plum+Princess+Gloves+Pattern+by+Zuzzy+Patterns-+Pattern+Revolution?format=750w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5174831ee4b084de2911741b/t/54b96681e4b05e2e7fc67d88/1421436545689/Plum+Princess+Gloves+Pattern+by+Zuzzy+Patterns-+Pattern+Revolution?format=750w" /></a></div>Next up is the gloves'&nbsp;<a href="http://patternrevolution.com/pattern-reviews/2015/1/16/plum-princess-gloves-pattern-by-zuzzy-patterns?rq=zuzzy">Official Pattern Review by Pattern Revolution</a>. I love the fun bright blue sequin dot fabric they used.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5174831ee4b084de2911741b/t/5485a2a0e4b0b0ce78c30f49/1418044064404/?format=750w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5174831ee4b084de2911741b/t/5485a2a0e4b0b0ce78c30f49/1418044064404/?format=750w" /></a></div>Next up are these fancy white gloves with sparkly ring! Back in December the Pattern Revolution ladies held an Over the Top Contest and this fabulous Royal blue dress added some Zuzzy Gloves to make it more over the top. I think they were so clever to add the button as a little ring. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.patternrevolution.squarespace.com/blog/2014/12/8/over-the-top-challenge-prizes-and-day-1?rq=over%20the%20top">See all the photos of the Over the Top Winter Wonderland Princess here</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15767713911_b3700df8a1_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15767713911_b3700df8a1_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, I wanted to share this great post written by one of my fabulous pattern testers the&nbsp;<a href="https://littlehouseonthedairy.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/plum-princess-purse-and-gloves-testing/">Little House on the Dairy</a>. The red sparkly star fabric came from a thrift store t-shirt! amazing! I love that the gloves are more of a super hero style instead of the the usual princess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just adore these gloves!</div>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/01/more-princess-gloves.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048710882894231811.post-7791383478661289786Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:03:00 +00002015-01-20T10:03:10.430-08:00Project Run and PlayPRP January Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dz56rsSIMsg/VL6I09UTQpI/AAAAAAAAI8I/2fpC-qTi0Mw/s1600/skirt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dz56rsSIMsg/VL6I09UTQpI/AAAAAAAAI8I/2fpC-qTi0Mw/s1600/skirt3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hi! I'm back from a big long blog break. Jacob is 20 months now and starting to be a little less crazy, hopefully that means I can do more blogging, and fun things like PROJECT RUN AND PLAY!!! Those of you who have been following me for a while know that I have been a fan of Project Run and Play from day one, and I've sewn along with a few of the challenges throughout the seasons. This year they are changing things up though, each month there will be a challenge inspired by a tutorial from one of the past competitors. This month the inspiration is<a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/01/januarys-challenge-bubble-dress-tutorial.html"> Alida's Bubble Skirt Tutorial</a>. The guidelines are very loose. Sew is up as is/flip it/ just in some way be INSPIRED by it.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/96/bd/35/96bd3541a7aa7a143409188351a20587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/96/bd/35/96bd3541a7aa7a143409188351a20587.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c4/3d/cc/c43dcc8e5f06e660cbe8d90c345434b0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c4/3d/cc/c43dcc8e5f06e660cbe8d90c345434b0.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided that I wanted to make an entire outfit inspired by the dress. I went straight to my <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/craftingzuzzy/2014winterinspiration/">Winter 2014 pinterest board&nbsp;</a>and was drawn to these two outfits. The elements I liked were the bold stripes, the floral details, the volume of the skirts, and the adorable cardigan.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lurE_BWPls/VL6I0q31TgI/AAAAAAAAI8A/SgxtszCSdKg/s1600/skirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lurE_BWPls/VL6I0q31TgI/AAAAAAAAI8A/SgxtszCSdKg/s1600/skirt1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's start with the skirt. The skirt is entirely based on Alida's dress tutorial minus the straps and bubble hem, and of course shortened to be a skirt instead of a dress. I LOVE the paper bag waist. I think it's adorable and &nbsp;Christine is obsessed with skirts right now so I know she's going to wear it a ton.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n8xuaEJ1kng/VL6I2d4y5OI/AAAAAAAAI8U/ivu9uiVgCZM/s1600/skirt6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n8xuaEJ1kng/VL6I2d4y5OI/AAAAAAAAI8U/ivu9uiVgCZM/s1600/skirt6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The striped fabric is from Hobby Lobby. I totally meant to cut the fabric so that the stripes were going horizontal like the inspiration photo above, but I simply forgot. Way to go Angela! Oh well it's still cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CddiiWC7M8Q/VL6I2Hw2aSI/AAAAAAAAI8Y/RY-_CgdSLOM/s1600/skirt5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CddiiWC7M8Q/VL6I2Hw2aSI/AAAAAAAAI8Y/RY-_CgdSLOM/s1600/skirt5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up, the shirt. The pattern is #9 Rascal from Ottobre Autumn 2013 issue. (My subscriptions is about to expire and I need to sew up a bunch from my old issues to justify the expense to renew another year!) It's simply a black knit raglan tee, but with a great sleeve cuff detail in a contrasting gray knit fabric upcycled from an old maternity tee of mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJdjdNUmh9s/VL6I2GqjpGI/AAAAAAAAI8Q/AhdKciFBL5c/s1600/skirt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJdjdNUmh9s/VL6I2GqjpGI/AAAAAAAAI8Q/AhdKciFBL5c/s1600/skirt4.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>Lastly, the cardigan. My original plan was to just sew up a <a href="http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2013/06/slouchy-cardigan-tutorial.html">CINO slouchy cardigan</a>&nbsp;but at the time I was wearing my favorite slouchy cardigan and Christine told me she wanted one JUST like mine. So I drafted a little slouchy cardigan and I even took pictures of the process so look for that tutorial next week!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QPox34tMXiE/VL6I1PLsuyI/AAAAAAAAI8E/81TLc5f2Qhw/s1600/skirt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QPox34tMXiE/VL6I1PLsuyI/AAAAAAAAI8E/81TLc5f2Qhw/s1600/skirt2.jpg" /></a></div>The floral spandex knit is from Girl Charlee (sorry it's sold out) and let me tell you that fabric is SO soft! The sleeves are a little long so I need to re-hem them, but we had SUCH nice weather yesterday I didn't want to miss a good photo opportunity. This cardigan is going to be a great wardrobe staple. Christine already wore her cardigan to preschool today with pink jeggings and a mint green heart tee, she looked so cute.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pPj1htWqLn0/VL6I3I1VFFI/AAAAAAAAI8c/bnhwQQqLk50/s1600/skirt7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pPj1htWqLn0/VL6I3I1VFFI/AAAAAAAAI8c/bnhwQQqLk50/s1600/skirt7.jpg" /></a></div>So there you have it. Three separates, perfect for the winter to spring transition.<br /><br />Check out more of the<a href="http://www.projectrunplay.com/2015/01/januarys-challenge-link-up-party.html"> January challenge HERE</a>http://craftingzuzzy.blogspot.com/2015/01/prp-january-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Angela)7